Google, University of Chicago Medical Center Accused of Sharing Patients’ Data

Google University of Chicago Medical Center Accused of Sharing Patients Data

Google and the University of Chicago Medical Center are being sued for allegedly sharing unauthorized data from their patients.

  • By Kaitlyn DeHaven
  • Jul 01, 2019

Google and the University of Chicago Medical Center formed a partnership approximately two years ago with the goal of finding patterns in patients’ medical records for medicine and to better understand disease.

The companies are now being sued for allegedly not stripping out date stamps or doctor’s notes in patient record, giving Google the ability to identify the patients. The lawsuit claims the companies did not take the proper measures to ensure patient privacy, nor did they obtain the consent of the patients.

Records from between 2009 and 2016 were shared with Google, according to the lawsuit. According to the Chicago Tribune, Google and the hospital are claiming that the patients aren’t identifiable by their records, but the lawsuit alleges the record contained times and dates of treatment, as well as notes from providers.

“Google managed to fly under the radar as it pulled off what is likely the greatest heist of consumer medical records in history,” the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit also states that when patients enter the University’s Medical Center, they sign admission forms in which the university agrees it will not share their records with third parties like Google.

Both the university and Google have denied the allegations. Google said, in a statement, that they take their privacy seriously, and that they follow all rules and regulations.

“We believe our healthcare research could help save lives in the future, which is why we take privacy seriously and follow all relevant rules and regulations in our handling of health data,” Google said. “In particular, we take compliance with HIPAA seriously, including in the receipt and use of the limited data set provided by the University of Chicago.”

About the Author

Kaitlyn DeHaven is the Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • The Future is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reason. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. But as the number of cameras grows and resolutions push from HD to 4K and beyond, the cloud’s limits are becoming unavoidable. Bandwidth bottlenecks. Latency lags. Rising storage costs. These are not abstract concerns. Read Now

  • The Impact of Convergence Between IT and Physical Security

    For years, the worlds of physical security and information technology (IT) remained separate. While they shared common goals and interests, they often worked in silos. Read Now

  • Unlocking Trustworthy AI: Building Transparency in Security Governance

    In situations where AI supports important security tasks like leading investigations and detecting threats and anomalies, transparency is essential. When an incident occurs, investigators must trace the logic behind each automated response to confirm its validity or spot errors. Demanding interpretable AI turns opaque “black boxes” into accountable partners that enhance, rather than compromise, organizational defense. Read Now

  • Seeking Innovative Solutions

    Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. You may recognize these terms as the “5 Phases” of a grieving process, but they could easily describe the phases one goes through before adopting any new or emerging innovation or technology, especially in a highly risk-averse industry like security. However, the desire for convenience in all aspects of modern life is finally beginning to turn the tide from old school hardware as the go-to towards more user-friendly, yet still secure, door solutions. Read Now

  • Where AI Meets Human Judgment

    Artificial intelligence is everywhere these days. It is driving business growth, shaping consumer experiences, and showing up in places most of us never imagined just a few years ago. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.