Health records sold at public auction
B.C. government tapes contain information on conditions such as HIV status, mental illness

Jonathan Fowlie, Vancouver Sun
Published: Saturday, March 04, 2006

The provincial government has auctioned off computer tapes containing thousands of highly sensitive records, including information about people's medical conditions, their social insurance numbers and their dates of birth.

Sold for $300 along with various other pieces of equipment, the 41 high-capacity data tapes were auctioned in mid-2005 at a site in Surrey that routinely sells government surplus items to the public.

Included among the files were records showing certain people's medical status -- including whether they have a mental illness, HIV or a substance-abuse problem -- details of applications for social assistance, and whether or not people are fit to work.

For more information click the link below:

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=512bec85-3609-4610-83da-8c6e2885e6f6