Doctor Fined $40K for Dumping Patient Records

In the Summer of 2010, Dr. Ervin Batchelor of the Carolina Center for Development and Rehabilitation, was fined for the improper disposal of thousands of patients' files. The files were not shredded and contained personal information.  Dr. Batchelor has now paid $40,000 as a fine, according to a statement released in 2011 by the North Carolina Attorney General's Office.

His sons illegally disposed of over 1,000 patient files by dumping them in a recycling bin in June of 2010 during a move from one office to another.  The 25 boxes of information were discoverd by the employees at the West Mecklenburg Recycling Center.

Officials said the files contained info for 1,600 people with data such as: names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, drivers' license numbers, insurance account numbers, and health information.

Many of the records were from 2007-2009.  By law, in North Carolina, medical providers are required to keep patient records for at least six years before discarding them.  State law also requires when records are to be discarded, they should be shredded to protect patient privacy.

"Any business you entrust with your information has a duty to keep it safe," Attorney General Roy Cooper said. "Sensitive financial and health information should never be carelessly dumped, putting customers and patients at risk of identity theft."  The Attorney General's office says medical records also face additional restrictions under federal health privacy laws, such as HIPPA and HITECH.

If you come across a business improperly discarding files containing someone's personal information, call 1-877-5-NO-SCAM.