Medical Data Scraping Lawsuits | Misuse of Health Records & Patient Privacy

When you log into a patient portal or use a health app, you likely assume your information remains private and secure. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Medical data scraping has emerged as a serious threat to patient privacy, with companies harvesting sensitive health information without consent or knowledge.

Contact our data privacy lawyers to learn more about medical data misuse lawsuits and to discuss taking legal action following a privacy violation. Free consultations available. 

Understanding Medical Data Scraping

Medical data scraping involves the use of automated programs—sophisticated bots—that systematically extract information from healthcare websites, patient portals, and health applications. These tools can capture a wide range of sensitive data, including your personal details, medical history, prescription records, and test results.

What makes this particularly concerning is that much of this activity happens without transparency. Companies deploy these scrapers to collect vast amounts of health data, which they then sell to advertisers, data brokers, pharmaceutical companies, and other interested parties. Most patients never learn that their information has been collected and commercialized.

Even when companies claim the data is “anonymized,” research consistently shows that combining multiple data points often makes it possible to identify specific individuals. The promise of anonymity frequently falls short in practice.

Where the System Breaks Down

The problem isn’t limited to questionable third-party actors. Sometimes the vulnerability exists within the very systems that hospitals and clinics use to serve patients. A seemingly secure patient portal may contain embedded tracking pixels that transmit your information to marketing companies each time you log in.

When questioned about these practices, companies often defend themselves by claiming the data has been anonymized. However, if the information can be traced back to you through data matching or other techniques, the anonymization is essentially meaningless.

The Legal Landscape

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was designed to protect patient health information. While it establishes important safeguards, HIPAA was enacted in 1996—long before the rise of sophisticated digital tracking technologies that exist today.

HIPAA regulations apply to hospitals, physicians, and insurance companies. However, many modern health platforms fall outside HIPAA’s jurisdiction. That fitness tracker, mental health app, or telehealth service you use may not be bound by HIPAA protections, creating significant gaps in privacy protection.

Despite these limitations, patients have legal recourse. Successful lawsuits have been filed based on:

• Privacy violations involving the unauthorized collection or disclosure of health information
• Breach of confidentiality when companies fail to honor their own privacy policies
• Negligence due to inadequate security measures that allow unauthorized data access
• Deceptive trade practices when companies misrepresent their data handling procedures

Recent litigation has targeted hospitals, analytics companies, and major technology firms for secretly tracking patient activity on medical websites. Courts are increasingly recognizing that digital privacy violations cause tangible harm, including emotional distress and increased vulnerability to identity theft.

The Commercial Value of Health Data

Medical information has become highly valuable in the marketplace. Pharmaceutical companies seek insights into potential customers. Insurance providers want to assess risk profiles. Digital platforms aim to refine their advertising capabilities. Your health data represents a significant commercial asset.

Once your information is scraped and sold, you lose control over how it’s used. Companies may develop predictive models about your health risks or consumer behavior. Others will use it to deliver targeted advertisements for medications, medical devices, or insurance products. In more serious cases, exposed health records can be exploited for identity theft or extortion.

Protecting Your Privacy

While you can take steps to protect yourself—being selective about what you share on health apps and reviewing privacy notices—individual precautions have their limits when violations occur on a systemic level.

Legal action is often necessary to establish accountability and uncover the full scope of data misuse.

How The Lyon Firm Can Help

The Lyon Firm represents individuals whose private information has been compromised or misused. Led by attorney Joe Lyon, the firm has substantial experience in data privacy, cybersecurity, and consumer protection litigation nationwide.

Working with The Lyon Firm means gaining a legal team that will conduct thorough investigations into how your medical data was accessed, stored, or shared.  We will identify all companies and healthcare entities that may bear responsibility. Our data privacy attorneys will pursue appropriate compensation for privacy violations, emotional distress, and potential identity theft risks. We make it our mission to advocate for stronger accountability standards in the healthcare and technology industries.

The Core Issue

Medical data scraping represents more than a technical problem—it’s a fundamental breach of trust between patients and the institutions responsible for protecting their information.

Patients deserve transparency about where their data goes, robust security measures that actually work, and meaningful control over their medical information. The Lyon Firm is dedicated to ensuring these rights are respected and that corporations face appropriate consequences when they fall short.

FAQs About Medical Data Scraping

What is medical data scraping?

Medical data scraping is the practice of using automated tools to collect patient information from health applications, hospital websites, or databases—typically without explicit consent—for commercial or research purposes.

Can I take legal action if my medical records were shared or sold?

Yes. If your protected health information was used or disclosed without your authorization, you may have grounds for legal action based on privacy violations or negligence.

Does HIPAA protect me from data scraping?

HIPAA provides protection against unauthorized disclosure by covered entities such as hospitals and insurance companies. However, many health-related applications and online platforms fall outside HIPAA’s scope, which is why alternative privacy litigation has become increasingly important.

How would I know if my data has been scraped?

You might receive a breach notification, or you may discover suspicious activity involving your health information. An attorney can help investigate whether scraping or unauthorized sharing has occurred in your situation.

What services does The Lyon Firm provide?

The Lyon Firm will investigate your case, identify responsible parties, and pursue appropriate compensation. Beyond individual cases, the firm works to hold corporations accountable for violations of digital privacy and data security laws.