Laptop Stolen: Patient Information at Risk

HOUSTON - Patient confidentiality is a sacred trust between doctor and patient, but what about thieves?

It's a question to consider when a laptop, containing the clinical and demographic information of around 1,600 patients, was stolen.

That information includes names, medical record numbers, dates of service, diagnoses and dates of birth, according to a Texas Children's Hospital statement.

No financial or insurance information was stored on the laptop.

A suspect was arrested and charged on Friday, but the password-protected laptop has yet to be recovered.

The laptop was stolen on May 13 from a physician from Baylor College of Medicine.

Every individual affected has been notified by the hospital.

There is no evidence to believe the information on the laptop has been accessed or used for fraudulent purposes.