Lake Charles Memorial Health

In October 2022, Lake Charles Memorial Health experienced a data breach where an unauthorized third party gained access to sensitive patient information. The compromised data included names, addresses, identification numbers, health insurance details, payment information, dates of birth, clinical records, and Social Security numbers. The breach led to a $2 million class-action lawsuit settlement, with eligible plaintiffs receiving up to $5,000 for out-of-pocket expenses and reimbursement for lost time. The hospital denied wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement, which requires class members to submit valid claims by September 5, 2025. The incident highlights the growing threat of data breaches in healthcare, where inadequate security measures can expose highly sensitive personal and medical data, resulting in financial and reputational damage, legal consequences, and loss of patient trust. The breach underscores the critical need for robust cybersecurity protocols to protect against unauthorized access and mitigate risks associated with digital storage of patient information.

Source: https://www.ecoticias.com/en/qualify-for-data-breach-class-action/19896/

TPRM report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/lakecharlesmemorial

"id": "lak521090325",
"linkid": "lakecharlesmemorial",
"type": "Breach",
"date": "10/2022",
"severity": "85",
"impact": "4",
"explanation": "Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks"

{'affected_entities': [{'industry': 'Healthcare',
                        'location': 'Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA',
                        'name': 'Lake Charles Memorial Health',
                        'type': 'Hospital'}],
 'customer_advisories': 'Notice sent to affected patients in December 2022; '
                        'settlement claims open until September 5, 2025',
 'data_breach': {'data_exfiltration': 'Yes',
                 'personally_identifiable_information': 'Yes',
                 'sensitivity_of_data': 'High',
                 'type_of_data_compromised': ['Personally Identifiable '
                                              'Information (PII)',
                                              'Protected Health Information '
                                              '(PHI)',
                                              'Financial Information']},
 'date_detected': '2022-10',
 'date_publicly_disclosed': '2022-12',
 'description': 'An unauthorized third party gained access to sensitive '
                'patient information at Lake Charles Memorial Health in '
                'October 2022. The breach exposed names, addresses, '
                'identification numbers, health insurance information, payment '
                'details, dates of birth, clinical information, and Social '
                'Security numbers. The hospital settled a $2 million '
                'class-action lawsuit, with eligible plaintiffs receiving up '
                'to $5,000 for out-of-pocket expenses and reimbursement for '
                'lost time.',
 'impact': {'brand_reputation_impact': 'Negative (class-action lawsuit and '
                                       'settlement)',
            'data_compromised': ['Names',
                                 'Addresses',
                                 'Identification numbers',
                                 'Health insurance information',
                                 'Payment information',
                                 'Dates of birth',
                                 'Clinical information',
                                 'Social Security numbers'],
            'financial_loss': '$2,000,000 (settlement amount)',
            'identity_theft_risk': 'High (SSNs and sensitive data exposed)',
            'legal_liabilities': '$2,000,000 (settlement)',
            'payment_information_risk': 'High (payment information exposed)'},
 'investigation_status': 'Settled (class-action lawsuit)',
 'references': [{'source': 'Top Class Actions',
                 'url': 'https://topclassactions.com'}],
 'regulatory_compliance': {'legal_actions': 'Class-action lawsuit settled for '
                                            '$2,000,000'},
 'response': {'communication_strategy': 'Notice sent to affected patients in '
                                        'December 2022'},
 'threat_actor': 'Unauthorized third party',
 'title': 'Lake Charles Memorial Health Data Breach (October 2022)',
 'type': 'Data Breach'}