Valley Independent Sentinel

Local Doctor Fined $20,000

by STAFF | Jun 19, 2012 8:13 pm

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Posted to: Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, Shelton

Update: The state Medical Examining Board Tuesday afternoon accepted and imposed the disciplinary action described below.

Original post follows:

A doctor who used to work at Griffin Hospital faces a $20,000 fine for downloading patients’ personal information.

Dr. Gerald Micalizzi accessed the medical records of almost 1,000 patients and downloaded information belonging to 339 patients, according to information from the Connecticut Medical Examining Board.

Micalizzi worked for a company that Griffin Hospital contracted with for radiology work. The medical examining board identified Micalizzi’s employer as Advanced Mobile Imaging Radiology.

Micalizzi’s access to a Griffin computer database with patient information had been cut off as of Feb. 3, 2010, after he was terminated.

However, from Feb. 4 to March 5, 2010, Micalizzi used another physician’s password to access the database from his home computer.

According to Griffin Hospital officials, he then contacted patients and said he was offering radiology services at another, unnamed hospital. Griffin Hospital found out after patients called the hospital and told them they had been contacted.

Click here for the original Valley Indy story on the data breach.

Click here to read Griffin Hospital’s original statement on the incident.

In addition to the $20,000 fine, Micalizzi’s license is to be reprimanded and he will complete training courses in physician ethics, patient confidentiality and compliance with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA).

Micalizzi and the state’s Medical Examining Board worked out an agreement the doctor signed on March 14, 2012. It was scheduled to be formally presented and accepted by the examining board during a meeting today (Tuesday, June 19).

A representative of the state’s Department of Health signed off on the agreement March 21.

As part of the agreement, Micalizzi waived his right for a hearing on the allegations. His license is to be put on probation for six months, while he completes the mandated training courses.

Micalizzi graduated from New York Medical School in 1993.

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