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HIV Clinic Targeted in Leak of Patient Data to the Internet

AIM Medical Associates denies accusations it provided private information.

More problems for a beleaguered health clinic servicing the adult film industry after personal information about its patients were published on a website.

AIM Medical Associates P.C., at 4630 Van Nuys Blvd., formerly known as the Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation, is reportedly believed to be the source of the leak to the site Pornwikileaks.com.  A charge the clinic vehemently denies.

The clinic provides HIV and AIDS testing for actors working for adult film companies headquartered in Chatsworth and elsewhere.

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“AIM Medical Associates, P.C. is investigating the possibility of a criminal breach of the medical record database.  Substantial amounts of information posted on the site in question could not come from the AIM database because we do not possess that information,” said AIM’s attorney Jeffrey J. Douglas in a statement to Patch.com.

Earlier this year, Netherland’s based Pornwikileaks.com published more thsan 12,000 names and birthdates of past and present adukt film performers. AIM denies any link to the publishing of this information as some in the adult community have alleged.

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On Wednesday, Gawker.com posted an article claiming that information on Pornwikileaks.com came from AIM. That article was reportedly based largely on information from adult film industry blog mikesouth.com and an actor in the adult industry.

It is unclear who owns the site or runs it.  They identify themselves, on the site, only as “an independent global group of people with a long standing dedication to the idea of a free press and the improved transparency in society that comes from this. The group  reportedly includes accredited journalists, software programmers, network engineers, mathematicians and others," added Douglas.

The clinic, which tests adult film performers for sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, keeps that information available only to film producers checking on the health status of their actors.  All adult film performers are required by law to have the AIDS virus test within 30 days of filming.

The clinic maintains any information that may have come from them could be the result of an illegal breach of their database. 

“We are the victim of a very serious crime,” said AIM’s Chief Administrative Officer.  “Our legal team, along with the authorities, are investigating this matter as we speak.  We hope to have answers soon and press charges.”

This the second time in four months the clinic has come under fire.  Last December state health officials shut down AIM after denying its application to operate as a community clinic for business related issues.

The Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation reopened a month later under its new name and a new owner.

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