US medical thefts developing into national trend, say authorities:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The recent theft of several million dollars' worth of high-value medical equipment in the Pittsburgh region is part of a national trend, says the FBI, which has received a seemingly regular flow of reports of endoscope thefts dating back to 2004. The University of North Carolina Hospitals have speculated that individuals are taking the equipment to start up in private practice or are selling the goods on. There appears to be a thriving internet-based black market in second-hand endoscopes, which are being bought up by overseas - sometimes third-world - countries. Concern over the emerging trend has prompted the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (Glendale Heights, Illinois) to plan a survey of its members and ascertain the extent of the problem.