ABC 6 On Your Side Problem Solvers acts after hundreds of medical files found in dumpster

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — When the call came into ABC6 On Your Side Problem Solvers of hundreds of dumped medical files inside recycling bins in north Columbus, Problem Solvers Lisa Rantala and Andy Harper headed straight to the scene.

"We have boxes and boxes and boxes of files," Harper recorded Rantala saying. "We've got the patient's name. We've got her date of birth."

It was only hours after tipster Shaun McFall discovered the files while recycling his own trash on the morning of March 10 behind Saint Stephen's Community House on East 17th Avenue. He called the U.S. Department of Health, Ohio Department of Health, and ABC6 On Your Side.

"I recognized it as a big breach," he told Problem Solvers. "I stood there probably slack-jawed for a moment, not even sure what to do."

As a software engineer in the medical field, McFall knew files containing diagnoses, prescriptions, social security numbers, emergency contacts and dates of birth within public reach violated state and federal rules, laws, and guidelines. Some of the records date back within the last five years to the year 2018.

The 17 files Problem Solvers looked through listed clinics named Columbus Pain Specialists, Columbus Addiction Specialists, Columbus Medical Center, and Columbus Addiction Center. The clinics all listed the same addresses on East Main Street and Morse Road.

"Looking in both dumpsters, it appeared to be a whole clinic's worth of patient information," said McFall. "It wouldn't surprise me if it were in the thousands."

Once McFall alerted Problem Solvers, ABC6 On Your Side called Columbus Police and did not leave the recycling bins until all files had been secured. CPD sat on the bins for hours until it opened its own case and towed the twin commercial bins to the Division of Police Tow Lot. Police are also trying to figure out how the abundance of sensitive files ended up in the trash.

"These are people who are fighting with an illness," said McFall. "When you're struggling with an illness, you don't want to have the additional stress of this on top of that."

Problem Solvers has tracked down at least three of the patients listed on these files. Hear from them and more about their former physician Thursday at 6:15 p.m. on ABC6 On Your Side.

"This can result in relapses," said McFall. "This could result in loss of life."