Michael Jackson’s Death Certificate Improperly Handled
Los Angeles County coroner’s officials said today that they have looked into security breaches involving the investigation of Michael Jackson’s death, including hundreds of improper views of the pop star’s death certificate and the discovery of weaknesses in two other computer systems in which more sensitive records were stored.
At least a half-dozen coroner’s staff members were among those who inappropriately accessed Jackson’s death certificate, officials said today. Within two weeks of his death, the certificate had been viewed more than 300 times.
In some cases, staff members appear to have printed copies before it became a public record. Earlier this month, coroner’s officials warned employees to cease, cautioning that they had previously been admonished about the security hold on the Jackson case.
“There’s only one person in the investigation of Mr. Jackson who needed to have a copy of the death certificate, and that was the investigator,” said Craig Harvey, chief coroner investigator. Read on…
Now this is just unprofessional and tactless. I know that Michael Jackson is famous, and thus it would be tempting to have your very own copy of his death certificate, but really, show some restraint. Your job gave you the power and place to access the record, but have some professional pride. Don’t stoop to this kind of level. How would you feel if your family member had their death certificate treated as nothing more than trade-able memorabilia?