In the past few weeks we’ve heard of yet more patient data being stolen, but don’t worry.  The government says we don’t have to worry about identity theft, even though social security numbers were in the database, so we’re all good.

A government laptop computer containing sensitive medical information on 2,500 patients enrolled in a National Institutes of Health study was stolen in February, potentially exposing seven years’ worth of clinical trial data, including names, medical diagnoses and details of the patients’ heart scans. The information was not encrypted, in violation of the government’s data-security policy.

No one was notified until a month later, which is par for the course for these agencies.  Rep. Joe Barton, however has asked for an inquiry in matter.

I really think we’ve had enough of these breaches and laptops should never be allowed to leave the buildings they are in.