Conn. AG investigates Yale med school data breach

The office of Connecticut's Attorney General (AG) is investigating a data breach at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., after the institute reported the theft of a laptop containing personal health information involving as many as 1,000 individuals.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is seeking to determine the causes of the breach and whether state or federal laws have been violated. Blumenthal also will seek privacy protections for individuals affected and measures to ensure that similar breaches are prevented in the future.

“Yale School of Medicine is cooperating with my office—recognizing that it has a profound responsibility to safeguard sensitive health information, and must be accountable to approximately 1,000 individuals whose information may be at risk,” Blumenthal said in a statement. “My office has begun an investigation to identify the cause of the breach and assure ongoing protections for patients.

“This breach—similar to recent breaches by others—must be a reminder to guardians of sensitive health information about their significant legal and moral obligation to protect privacy.”