Posted On May 24, 2022 Consumer Privacy & Data Breaches
May 24, 2022 – Recently, an online news source reported on an alarming data breach affecting the protected health information of patients who underwent ultrasound procedures at Atlanta Perinatal Associates (“APA”). According to claims made by the hackers carrying out the attack, they were able to obtain the six-page ultrasound reports generated for each patient. These reports include patients’ names, dates of birth, ID numbers, expected due dates of delivery, referring physician names, sonographer names, and the results of ultrasounds. The leaked information also includes some patients’ history of drug or alcohol use, family and social factors, and other health-related information.
If you are a current or former patient of Atlanta Perinatal Associates and receive a data breach notification in the near future, it is essential you understand what is at risk. The data breach lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. are actively investigating the APA data breach on behalf of people whose information was exposed. As a part of this investigation, we are providing free consultations to anyone affected by the breach who is interested in learning more about the risks of identity theft, what they can do to protect themselves, and what their legal options may be to obtain compensation from Atlanta Perinatal Associates.
The Atlanta Perinatal Associates breach is unique because the company has not yet acknowledged the attack. Thus, all information about this data security incident comes from the Vice Society, which is the organization that recently took credit for the cyberattack on the organization’s leak site.
It is relatively common for cybercriminal groups to maintain these leak sites, where they boast about the attacks they’ve carried out. In the case of the Atlanta Perinatal Associates data breach, the Vice Society actually posted the data it obtained through the attack onto its leak site.
The leaked data includes the information you’d expect to find in an ultrasound report, including patients’ names, dates of birth, ID numbers, expected due dates of delivery, as well as referring physician names, sonographer names, and the ultrasound results. In addition, other documents that the Vice Society obtained through the attack contain additional information about patients, such as their historical use of drugs and alcohol, social and family factors that may affect pregnancy, and other health-related matters. So far, there are no reports that the leaked data contained any of the patients’ insurance information or Social Security numbers. The leaked data contained some records containing credit card information.
Atlanta Perinatal Associates has not yet confirmed the breach or notified any of the affected parties that their information may have been compromised. However, it is very likely that APA is aware of the cyberattack and is in the process of conducting its own investigation into the incident. If the company confirms the Vice Society’s claims are true, it will be required under state and federal law to notify all affected parties by sending them data breach notifications.
Atlanta Perinatal Associates is an Atlanta, Georgia-based healthcare provider focusing on maternal-fetal medicine. The practice specializes in treating mothers who are experiencing a high-risk pregnancy and coordinates all aspects of a patient’s care with other medical providers. APA has eight locations throughout Georgia, including in Atlanta, Conyers, Decatur, East Point, Riverdale, Newnan, and Stockbridge. Atlanta Perinatal Associates has approximately 46 employees and brings in more than $8 million in annual revenue.
At Console & Associates, P.C., our consumer privacy lawyers monitor all security and data breaches to help affected consumers pursue their legal remedies. We offer free consultations to victims of data breaches and can explain your rights in clear, understandable terms so you can make an informed decision about how to proceed with your case. If you’ve been affected by the APA data breach or any other data security incident, Console & Associates, P.C., will investigate your case at no charge and offer you thorough advice about how to most effectively proceed with your case. If you decide to bring a case, we only get paid if you do. If your claim is successful, any legal fees are either paid by the defendant or come out of the funds recovered from the defendant. If your claim doesn’t result in a recovery, you will pay nothing.
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