Between December 4th, 2018 and January 7th, 2019, the personal health data of approximately 34,000 medical cannabis patients was compromised in a data breach of an electronic medical record system used by Sunniva Inc. (CSE:SNN) (OTC:SNNVF) and its Natural Health Services Ltd. subsidiary.
What is Natural Health Services Ltd.?
For those who are not familiar with Natural Health Services Ltd., it is a self-described “cannabinoid medical clinic that specializes in cannabis prescriptions.”
In response, personal injury firm Diamond & Diamond Lawyers LLP has filed a class action lawsuit against Natural Health Services Ltd. and its parent company.
Despite the fact that the data breach occurred months ago, plaintiffs were only notified within the last calendar week, according to a statement from Diamond & Diamond.
Here’s What Patient Data Was Compromised
While National Health Services Ltd. claimed that the breach did not include any financial, credit card or social insurance number data, the following medical marijuana patient information was disclosed within the breach:
- Diagnostic results
- Health care numbers
- Medical information including diagnostic results, medical conditions, allergies, encounter notes with clinics and doctors, referrals, forms and completed questionnaires
- Specific identifying information connected to the above, including name, age, gender, address, phone number
This has presumably left many compromised patients worried, and rightfully so. “What is more integral that the preservation of our health information?” said Jeremy Diamond, Manager Partner at Diamond and Diamond Lawyers. “All individuals that filled out these online forms could be affected by this egregious breach.”
The Representative Plaintiff for the class, Adele Worley-Burns, stated, “I was informed by my lawyer that this kind of a breach could possibly impact my insurance rates, ability to travel, and subject me to possible fraud. I feel violated on a variety of levels.”
Conclusion
With so many patients impacted by the breach, we expect a tremendous reputational impact to Natural Health Services Ltd. and Sunniva Inc., not to mention a sell-off in the stock. If you disagree, just look at a chart for shares of Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX) since their data breach in 2017 – they still haven’t fully recovered.
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Huge overreaction. What’s your intent? I think I know. $$ with words like: tremendous reputational impact it’s all to obvious.
You’re a douche bag citing diamond and diamond. You should’ve looked up their shady past before writing this piece of trash. Unless, your shorting you greedy bastard.