Woman gets year in prison for Internet posting of AIDS patient's records

[dkf]

A 22-year-old woman who had a part in the posting of an AIDS victim's medical records on the Internet was sentenced to a year in prison this morning.
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Rhonda Wong-Fernandez accessed the records while working at Straub Clinic and gave the material to the victim's sister-in-law, Circuit Judge Randal Lee said in passing sentence.

The defendant's lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Alan Komogome, asked Lee for a probation sentence and Deputy Prosecutor Christopher Van Marter asked the judge to send Wong-Fernandez to jail for 30 days, followed by probation.

But Lee called the defendant's conduct "egregious" and said the year of imprisonment should serve as a deterrent and a warning to others "that this kind of conduct will not be tolerated."

"Young people in this society have to realize that the Internet is not something that can be taken advantage of," Lee said.

"You can't use the Internet to do unlawful conduct," he said.

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090609/BREAKING01/90609059/Woman+gets+year+in+prison+for+Internet+posting+of+AIDS+patient+s+records

[madeline_con]

1. She should also lose any license/certification she has AND be

banned from working in any medically related job EVER again.

[dkf]

3. I think she was a clerk, so no certifications etc.

Apparently she had a run in with the patient years ago and saw they had HIV and posted it on facebook.

[Rex]

2. That is true, the www is for pron, pron and more pron.

All day, everyday.

[petronius]

4. Yeah, "young people" need to figure it out. 'Cause us older people, we never

do stupid stuff like this! Silly judge... :rofl:

Im glad to see that she was substantially punished, although a year (assuming she serves it all) seems a bit harsh to me.

[rustydog]

5. You should see what the monetary fine is for deliberate HIPPA

violations! this person got off EASY.

[UncleTomsEvilBrother]

6. Interesting...

....the word "victim" is used to describe a person with AIDS.

[supernova]

9. Yes, AIDS patients are victims

And the patient in this case is also a victim of the violations of his rights under HIPPA regulations, something we should all be watchful for.

So yes, victim is exactly the right word.

[UncleTomsEvilBrother]

12. Oh,....

....when a person's right to privacy is invaded, he/she is definitely a "victim." I was talking more about the issue of AIDS. I know two wonderful people who have the disease. They'd never call themselves "victims."

[Bluenorthwest]

10. Ah yes, good eye

The word 'victim' is not really welcome to describe a person with AIDS. The word 'person' is far better.

[whistler162]

11. So they are a "person of invasion of privacy"?

not a "victim of invasion of privacy"!


OKKKKKAYYYY!!

[votingupstart]

7. glad to see it

this type of invasion of privacy is UNACCEPTABLE, i am glad she is being punished for it and i whop it serves as a deter ant.

[Vidar]

8. Good, but not long enough.

[Name removed]

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