HHS OCR report · 2018
Alicia Ann Oswald data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Alicia Ann Oswald
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- California
- Individuals affected
- 800
- Submission date
- Jan 9, 2018
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
On January 9, 2018, the covered entity (CE), Dr. Alicia Oswald, reported that she sent group emails to her patients without using the “blank carbon copy” (BCC) feature to mask the recipients. The breach affected an estimated 800 individuals’ email addresses. In response to the breach, the CE re-sent the email using BCC and apologized to the individuals, reported the incident to the California State Board, and provided breach notification to HHS. The CE adopted improved email software to pr...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Alicia Ann Oswald data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 800 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Jan 9, 2018.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Unauthorized Access/Disclosure, with the breached information located in: Email.
Is the investigation still open?
No. The report is in the OCR portal archive, which holds reports where OCR has closed its review.
Is a breach notice letter from Alicia Ann Oswald legitimate?
This site cannot verify letters. Check the sender against the organisation's official website and the HHS OCR breach portal, and avoid calling numbers or clicking links only listed in an unexpected message. See our guide on what to do after a data breach notice.
Source: HHS OCR Breach Portal, OCR export October 2026. Network USA is not affiliated with HHS or Alicia Ann Oswald.