Medical records breach may affect thousands

AN investigation into how sensitive medical records were illegally accessed in the Philippines has spread to 60 more Irish hospitals and individual doctors — potentially compromising the private data of thousands of patients.

The Irish Examiner understands that the Data Protection Commissioner is writing to all Irish health clients of the UScribe online transcription firm over fears that their patients have been subject to significant security breaches, similar to those highlighted at Tallaght Hospital.

This will potentially leave thousands of patients across Ireland exposed to the risk of fraud as documents containing names, dates of birth, addresses, contact information, medical conditions and histories may be involved.