Rhode Island Hospital to Pay State $150,000 for Lost Data, Records

A Rhode Island hospital has agreed to pay $150,000 in Massachusetts after losing backup tapes that contained the personal information of more than 12,000 Massachusetts residents.

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced the agreement with Women and Infants Hospital in Providence on Wednesday. It was approved by a judge on Tuesday.

The hospital in 2012 discovered it had lost 19 backup tapes from its prenatal diagnostic centers in Providence and New Bedford. They contained ultrasound images and data including names, birth dates and some Social Security numbers.

Coakley says the loss of the tapes put Massachusetts consumers at risk.

Under terms of the settlement, the hospital has agreed to audit its data security measures and make improvements.

The hospital says has taken several steps to prevent such a breach from happening again.