A Houston doctor has been indicted for stealing the protected health information of pediatric patients not under his care, announced Alamdar S. Hamdani, of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Ethan Haim, 34, of Dallas, was indicted on four counts alleging he obtained personal information, including patient names, treatment codes, and the attending physician from Texas Children’s Hospital’s electronic system without authorization.
The indictment alleges Haim requested to re-activate his login access at Texas Children’s Hospital in April 2023, under false pretenses, to access pediatric patients not under his care. He allegedly obtained unauthorized access to personal information of pediatric patients and later disclosed it to a media contact.
Haim, a resident at Baylor College of Medicine, had previous rotations at Texas Children’s Hospital as part of his residency. If convicted, Haim faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 maximum possible fine.
The FBI conducted the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Tina Ansari prosecuting the case. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Haim is set to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Yvonne Y. Ho in Houston at 2 p.m. on an unsealed indictment.
The case highlights the importance of protecting sensitive patient information from unauthorized access. Healthcare providers must ensure robust security measures are in place to prevent data breaches and safeguard patient confidentiality.
The indictment serves as a reminder that healthcare professionals have a duty to maintain patient trust and adhere to strict confidentiality guidelines.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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