Bankruptcy, Eviction and Patient Records

The 2005 bankruptcy amendments added a provision to the Bankruptcy Code to help protect the privacy of patient records in the bankruptcy case of a "health care business."  The provision sets forth a process by which a trustee can notify patients about their records (broadly defined) and then ultimately destroy them if they are not claimed.  But reality may not always operate according to such plans.   According to this news story, a giant pile of patient financial records of a bankrupt doctor were found in a parking lot after an eviction overseen by the sheriff and the building manager in the doctor's absence (thanks to Rebecca Redwine for the tip).