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Laptop With Health Information Stolen from Yale Med School

Wednesday, Aug 18, 2010 | Updated 4:00 PM EST

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The laptop was stolen from Yale Medical School.

The security of personal health information of up to 1,000 people could have been compromised when a laptop was stolen from Yale Medical School.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said his office is investigating to determine what caused the security breach and whether state or federal laws have been violated.

“Yale Medical School 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. “My office has begun an investigation to identify the cause of the breach and assure ongoing protections for patients.”

Blumenthal said he will also seek privacy protections for individuals affected, and measures to ensure that similar breaches are prevented in the future.

“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.”