_____________________________________

AMERICA THE LAND OF THE SABOTAGED,
THE STUPID, AND THE UNSUSPECTING !!!
Nothing is Sacred Anymore!!
_____________________________________




Hospital Worker Charged With Stealing And Selling Patient Information

Date created: 4/12/2008 4:55:27 PM


Dwight McPherson, 38, a former worker at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, was arrested Friday night, shortly after the hospital announced the security breach.

He was arraigned Saturday at a federal court in Manhattan.

Prosecutors said McPherson exploited his access to the hospital's computer registration system to acquire lists of patient names, phone numbers and social security numbers over a two-year period.

Authorities became aware that something was amiss when printouts of patient records were discovered in Atlanta, Ga. during an investigation by U.S. postal inspectors, according to a complaint filed by prosecutors Saturday.

McPherson confessed to a role in the identity-theft scheme when he was interrogated by agents on Friday, an inspector said in the complaint.

McPherson told agents that in 2006 he was approached by someone offering money in exchange for the names, addresses and other identifying information of male patients born between 1950 and 1970.

The complaint said McPherson sold a batch of 1,000 records in December or January for $750, and another batch for $600 a short time later.

Prosecutors didn't reveal Saturday who had purchased the data or why, but the court complaint said the buyers intended to use the information "in connection with illegal activity."

McPherson didn't address the charges during his brief court appearance and wouldn't speak to reporters after he was released on bond.

"He is a hard working, honest man," said his lawyer, Bob Walters.

New York-Presbyterian suspended McPherson in February after being contacted by federal investigators.

Hospital spokeswoman Myrna Manners said Friday evening that none of the stolen data contained private health information, and that the hospital was unaware of any instance where the information had been used to scam individual patients.

The hospital is in the process of contacting thousands of patients, setting up a hot line for them and offering credit monitoring services. It is also examining its procedures to prevent future thefts, Manners said.

______________________________________

END of WUSA TV Release


If there was ever a case to be made
as to why VSO's should be phased out
of doing Veterans claims, then this
story right here is a glaring example
for all to study. As you have seen
on the many Posts made in this Forum
Page, Veterans are bringing their
very own criminal element into the
military arena, and it's only just
a matter of time where this whole
Identity Theft issue creeps into
our claims system. It's something
to be cautious about and the OPEN
DOOR nonsense that is going on
with VSO's right now really does
have to be shut down.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: McClellanVet,