Hiya,

Lemmie talk about "HIPAA". Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
Linux gurus really should be more aware of privacy ethics.

First off:
The medical industry happens to be pretty good at self-policing.
It's not common knowledge, but prosecutions under this law are very rare.
Sadly, the whole personal privacy issue seems protected by a
toothless dragon. Legal systems that just don't work.
I can't find a single prosecution in Arizona.

And B:
Candidates for cases do exist.
As of 2007:
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1198749902130&slreturn=1&hbxlogin=1
"HIPAA violations are misdemeanors, and no one in Arizona has been
prosecuted under the four-year-old statute, said Sandra Raynor, a spokeswoman
for the U.S Attorney's Office in Phoenix."
In the above case Sean Dubowik, 37, was victim of an intern's cell phone camera.
The photo never made it to the internet, or this case would be legendary.
As it happens, this guy is owner of a strip club in the Phoenix area.
His gallbladder surgery was NOT a publicity stunt.
It pisses me off, that this gained national attention without justice.

Privacy in Linux? What's your take? Looks to me like the law ain't any help.
I'd bet that everyone on this PLUG list has violated privacy in some way.
Yet, I'd trust any one of 'em in a heartbeat.
It's the inexperienced that need surveillence. Or spelling lessons.

@ Lisa:
"Trust Is A Weakness"

(-: Chas.M. :-)