To the Journal editor:

I worked for a hospital in Wisconsin before retiring. Hospitals view patient information as top secret and follow federal law (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) for the protection of sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge.

Violating confidentiality and allowing unauthorized patient information to be disclosed unintentionally or intentionally has consequences for the hospitals and employees who do not fulfill their duty.

Employees possessing unauthorized hard copies of patient information or storing patient information on unauthorized computers would violate HIPAA rules, and would result in termination … and depending on the case, criminal charges could be brought.

I managed servers/databases/applications containing patient information and the hospital had restricting protocols and sign-off by an independent department chartered to enforce proper handling of patient data.

Access to patient records was constantly monitored and I would be in violation even if I accessed my own medical record without prior authorization. I would need to file a formally requ

st for access, and when approved, I would be allowed to view my medical record at a secured location.

Therefore, the news of the 45th president having unauthorized top secret information at his residence without following proper protocols is beyond words.

Violating the trust of the people, the oath you swore to uphold, and recklessly possessing unauthorized top secret and above” information when you are “retired” from your job is beyond selfish, it places the men and women who protect America in harm’s way.

This isn’t about party. It has happened to the other party. One example, in 1996, after John M. Deutch left the position of director of CIA, the FBI opened a case against Deutch because he moved a large amount of classified information onto his unprotected home computers, he was not held accountable because he was pardoned, very disappointing to me.

There are dire consequences when top secret information is exposed unintentionally or intentionally.

Aldrich Hazen Ames (former CIA) was charged in 1994 with intentionally providing highly classified information to Russia and led to the execution of at least 9 United States agents in Russia. He was sentenced to life in prison.

Our Democracy requires independent non-political oversight with strict protection protocols for the handling of sensitive government information.

We should be celebrating the men and women chartered with the protection of America’s confidential information.

Every person who violates their oath should have their day in court.