Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 15, 2026

Eric Drew

Eric Drew is one of the first adults in the US to survive a double cord blood stem cells transplant for "terminal leukemia". Drew is noted for having his identity stolen during his treatment. While undergoing treatment for a rare and virulent leukemia, his identity was stolen by a medical worker called Richard Gibson. Drew fought and became the first person to force a federal criminal conviction under the Health Information Privacy (HIPAA) laws. Gibson was sentenced to 16 months in prison and had to pay $15,000 in restitution. Drew has now dedicated his life to helping patients with all types of serious and terminal diseases, and has become a spokesperson for the non-controversial cord blood stem cells that saved his life.

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Jun 15, 2026
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Eric Drew is one of the first adults in the US to survive a double cord blood stem cells transplant for "terminal leukemia".1 Drew is noted for having his identity stolen during his treatment.1 While undergoing treatment for a rare and virulent leukemia, his identity was stolen by a medical worker called Richard Gibson. Drew fought and became the first person to force a federal criminal conviction under the Health Information Privacy (HIPAA) laws. Gibson was sentenced to 16 months in prison and had to pay $15,000 in restitution. Drew has now dedicated his life to helping patients with all types of serious and terminal diseases, and has become a spokesperson for the non-controversial cord blood stem cells that saved his life.

Drew founded in 2003 the Eric Drew Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes advocacy for terminally ill patients.2

Dateline NBC presented a segment called "Fighting cancer... and an ID thief " on Eric Drew's story on December 25, 2005.3

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Kushner, David (2008-04-09). "The Man Who Lost His Name—and His Genetic Identity". Discover Magazine. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  2. "The Eric Drew Foundation Inc". Charity Navigator. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  3. "Inside Dateline: Dateline's most-clicked stories of 2005". msnbc.com. 2005-12-31. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
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