London HIV clinic accidentally divulges names of nearly 800 patients

• 56 Dean Street, one of London’s biggest HIV clinics, revealed 780 names and e-mail addresses through an e-mail newsletter, which directors said was the result of human error.
• Patients indicated that they saw names of people on the list whose HIV status had been undisclosed to them previously, worrying them about the fallout.
• The Information Commissioner’s Office, Britain’s data protection watchdog, announced it was investigating the breach.

“I am a bit paranoid that somehow the list might be shared or end up published on the internet somewhere. I know that is a bit unlikely but it still terrifies me. I am worried that if there is legal action [for breach of privacy] my anonymity will be further compromised as well.”

Read the full story at the Guardian.

(Image Credit: Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust/Video grab, via the Guardian)