Personal Health Data Lost in UCSF Computer Theft
UC-San Francisco on Wednesday announced that a computer server containing personal health data, Social Security numbers and other information on cancer study participants was stolen, the San Francisco Business Times reports (Rauber, San Francisco Business Times, 4/18).
The theft occurred on March 30 from a locked university office, according to the university (King, San Francisco Chronicle, 4/19).
The university said it is using backup files to determine the names of all of the individuals affected.
Officials said they cannot determine exactly how many participants were referenced on the server because of the large amount of files and their "complex variety of formats, layouts and data content."
The server contained data on at least 3,000 individuals involved in clinical studies on causes and potential treatments for brain, lung and breast cancers, according to officials.
The data contained both clinical information and personal data, including names, contact information and Social Security numbers. Personal health data also were included in some cases, according to the university.
Warning letters about the data breach were sent on April 16 to about 3,000 individuals, according to the university. Currently, there is no evidence that data has been accessed inappropriately (San Francisco Business Times, 4/18).