No fines, penalties for 3 abortion mills that committed gross HIPAA violations
Recall former KS Attorney General and Johnson Co. State Attorney Phill Kline is still under investigation for requesting redacted abortion records to determine whether George Tiller and Planned Parenthood were violating late-term and minor abortion laws.
But that’s how our side is treated. When it’s the other side grossly violating the privacy of aborting mothers, well, “Whoopsy! How can we help you not repeat that mistake?,” the feds ask.
On September 28 and 29 Citizens for a Pro-life Society’s director Dr. Monica Miller received 3 letters from the Dept. of Health & Human Services Office of Civil Rights in response to HIPAA complaints Miller filed 2-1/2 years go after finding hundreds of intimate patient records in 3 MI abortion mill dumpsters. These were not isolated finds either. Miller and her pro-life team checked the dumpsters each of 5 to 7 separate weeks, depending on the mill, each time retrieving more records (along with aborted babies and other medical waste).
Outrageously, OCR notified Miller it did not fine or penalize any of the 3 – Womancare Clinic in Lathrup Village, owned by abortionist Alberto Hodari; Sharpes Family Planning in Detroit and Women’s Advisory Center in Livonia, both owned by abortionist Reginald Sharpe.
Instead, according to the letters, which were identical (see Womancare letter here)…
Based on our review of the facts and circumstances of this matter, we have determined that all of the issues raised in this matter at the time it was filed have now been resolved by the voluntary compliance actions of Womancare/SFP/WAC.
This after agreeing with Miller in all 3 letters that the mills had…
… failed to have in place appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect the privacy of its patients’ protected health information from any intentional or unintentional use or disclosure.
In addition OCR gave poor Dr. Hodari a helping hand:
On June 24 and July 2, 2009, OCR contacted Womancare and provided technical assistance regarding business associate contracts.
Wasn’t that nice?
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
Perhaps OCR also provided a complimentary paper shredder to “assist” Hodari in proper disposal of records, as well. Good grief.
Oh, and did they “assist” Hodari in proper disposal of mutilated and dismembered unborn children as well?
It amazes me how it is pro-lifers who are viewed as the “extremists” on these issues for seeking to expose the truth behind what really goes on in the abortion industry, but those who expose other industries or corporate America are lauded as “heroes.” And the butchers are also the ones who are viewed as “compassionate” while they fill their dumpsters with the remains of human beings. They make Dahmer look like a misunderstood guy next door…
Abortion continues to enjoy its privileged exemption from the established standards of ethics and integrity in research, drug approval, informed consent, and disciplinary action for those whose contempt for ethics and their patients is second to none.
Hipaa violations can result in fines of $5,000 per violation or more. I guess no one wants that money… which is strange considering the econonmy and the deficit. All that money would come in handy. Each patient record violation is separate, so that’s a potential hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, maybe adding up to million$$$.
Sounds familiar. When I sent our DHHS copies of alleged violations at the Planned Parenthood-Lincoln abortion facility (by an insider who contacted me anonymously),
DHHS gave PP a slap on the wrist and said they had violated some provisions but were then put on “probation” for a short time until they reached compliance. Seems to be a different set of standards in how the abortion industry is treated when they violate regulations and statutes and how the pro-life side is treated.
Abortionists always profess to be the noble protectors of a woman’s “right to privacy.” What hypocrites.
Yes ninek, Hospitals, clinics, dr.’s offices, outpatient surgery centers and every medical facility except the death chambers of abortuaries have to follow rigorous standards regarding HIPPA, Joint Commission, state and county health dept. standards, OSHA, medical waste disposal procedures and some even city regulations (if they have a city dept. of health). PP and the “Dead Babies R Us crew ” don’t have to follow any rules or regulations, they get to make up their own.
So, no one has a problem with these people dumpster diving at a women’s health clinic? That’s just sick.
Planned Parenthood is under the same regulations including HIPPA as any other health clinic. If a HIPPA violation is found the clinic is given a chance to amend procedures in order to be in HIPPA compliance in the future. If the violation persists then a fine can be employed to force compliance. In this case such measures were not needed as the clinics in question fixed the procedures they had in place.
Try harder next time i guess, maybe you will find something really damning if you dive into enough dumpsters…
Whats wrong with dumpster diving Biggz? Thats what private I’s do when they are investigating someone. Thats where you ‘ dig up the garbage” on someone. Why aren’t you outraged that they threw women’s private medical records out if you “care about women” like you declare all the time?
Also, when someone throws something away, it’s fair game. That’s black-letter law. Honestly, dumpster diving is the least shocking portion of this article, and the fact that you’re defending overlooking HIPPA violations is telling.
Hey Littlez,
“Try harder next time i guess, maybe you will find something really damning if you dive into enough dumpsters…”
Yeah, like butchered babies. Dumpster diving is perfectly legal. Medical offices, and medical washouts pretending that they’re respected clinicians (e.g. abortionists) are required by law to protect patient privacy from dumpster divers who would use that info for nefarious purposes. Checking to see if they are in compliance seems reasonable enough.
God knows that they’re washouts as clinicians. Now we’re working on their clerical skills. It seems that they’re not so good there either, which begs the question.
Aside from murdering babies, what are they proficient at?
Farrah Fawcett was able to used HIPAA to deal with a hospital worker who was leaking her information to the tabloids. The hospital was not given a free pass, so free passes are NOT standard.
It’s so kind of pro-aborts to be concerned for women’s privacy. I guess if it had been identity thieves or nosy boyfriends instead that would have been more acceptable. After all, who are we to judge identity thieves? They have a right to do what they want with their bodies, and if they use their bodies to steal, well we should get right on that and pass some more laws to protect them. In fact, we should post our social security numbers on our windows so the poor little dears don’t get papercuts when they illegally open our mail.
Look no one is saying this violation is OK or in any way defending it. We are saying that these types of violations happen at every clinic, doctor’s office, or hospital in the country. We are saying it is a common thing and not the damning final nail in the “pro-aborts” coffin as you guys make it out to be. Lol
Legal or not, private eye or not, it is still pretty gross don’t you think?