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The author of this blog, David T.S. Fraser, is a Canadian privacy lawyer who practices with the firm of McInnes Cooper. He is the author of the Physicians' Privacy Manual. He has a national and international practice advising corporations and individuals on matters related to Canadian privacy laws.

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The views expressed herein are solely the author's and should not be attributed to his employer or clients. Any postings on legal issues are provided as a public service, and do not constitute solicitation or provision of legal advice. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained herein or linked to. Nothing herein should be used as a substitute for the advice of competent counsel.

This web site is presented for informational purposes only. These materials do not constitute legal advice and do not create a solicitor-client relationship between you and David T.S. Fraser. If you are seeking specific advice related to Canadian privacy law or PIPEDA, contact the author, David T.S. Fraser.

Sunday, June 12, 2005

Incident: Medical Documents Spilled On Highway in Alabama 

From News Channel 10 in Rhode Island:

News Channel 10 - News - CVS Apologizes For Customers' Documents Spilled On Highway:

"CVS, based in Woonsocket, R.I., apologized to some customers Friday after a truck licensed by the company spilled documents with personal information on a highway in Birmingham, Ala.

CVS told News Channel 10 the incident in Alabama is an accidental situation due to a truck malfunction.

A portion of Interstate 65 in Birmingham was littered with medical documentation about CVS customers.

"We deeply regret the incident that occurred today (Friday) when a Waste Management truck that was traveling from one of our distribution centers broke open and spilled information about customers on the road,” said CVS corporate spokesman Todd Andrews, in an interview with the NBC station in Birmingham.

"What happened today (Friday) was that the information which travels from our pharmacies to our distribution center, which is then packaged and then brought to a secure landfill, was somehow relieved in transit either through a door being unsecured or somehow being damaged and opening."

After receiving calls that the documents were strewn all across the Interstate, Andrews said the issue was addressed by CVS immediately.

"We immediately took action and contacted Waste Management, which is the licensed hauler of this material,” said Andrews. “We are working with Waste Management now and their cleaning crews to secure all of this information."

CVS said they've asked the waste management company to do a full investigation into how the documents became unsecured and blew off the truck and were allowed to remain on the roadside, uncollected."

I would think this information should be shredded, rather than sent to a "secure landfill".

Labels:

6/12/2005 09:03:00 AM  :: (1 comments)  ::  Backlinks
Comments:
get real no one wants to pay for trash service if you have to shred it then the price will jump up 3x and will be passed along to the customer
 
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