I’m Kate Dewhirst.

My team and I write about legal issues affecting healthcare in Canada.

Kate Dewhirst Health Law - bringing the law to life. Meet Kate (in 13 seconds)

I’m back!

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I have been absent from social media and our communities for a few months.

I had a little undercover work to do in the healthcare system.  It was not voluntary!

I had ovarian cancer and needed surgery. It was caught early and I should have a full recovery.

Over time, I will have more to share.

For now, I want to thank my team who stepped up so capably over the last few months. Sarah Virani, Megan Ferrier and Gillian Kafka provided excellent legal advice and training in my absence.  Melissa Martin, Lindsay Coombs and Cathryn Fallis ably kept the office running.

Thank you to all our clients for your messages of support and putting up with the rearrangements and postponements.

I had amazing healthcare: My primary care protectors who stayed by me every step.  My surgeons, nurses, doctors, pain team, psychologist, and social worker were top notch.  And to all the techs who took such beautiful pictures of my insides.

Thank you to my family, friends and colleagues who guided me through.  Especially to those who had their own journey to share.  Having positive examples was a lifeline.

I am looking forward to connecting with you all.  I am grateful that I get to return to my life and my work.  Sending you all love.


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Some of Kate’s recent and upcoming events

Free healthcare privacy webinar - ask me anything!
the first Wednesday of every month

Free webinars - advance registration needed

Whether you're an experienced privacy officer or new in the field, pick Kate’s brain for free for an hour, in this live webinar. No charge, but you’ll need to register in advance.

Primary care webinars: Employment Law Update & Legal Issues for EDs and Board members

Part of Kate’s monthly webinar series.

Our 2025 program is now live.
Full details of the 2024 webinar series and registration here.

Mental Health webinars: Legal issues for mental health and addictions agencies and teams
Annual membership 2025

For managers and other leaders from mental health and addictions agencies, hospitals, CMHAs, CHCs, school boards, FHTs and Indigenous health services

This is an annual membership program with monthly webinars.
Full details and registration here.

Health Privacy Officer Foundations training
starts Spring 2025

For Privacy Officers within healthcare organizations.

This course focuses on how to become a more confident privacy officer and gives you the tools to document your privacy program. Full details and registration here...

Join the Shush: a collective of health privacy officers
Annual membership 2024

For Privacy Officers within healthcare organizations

This is an annual membership program that takes theory into practice and tackles real life scenarios to build Privacy Officer skills.
Full details and registration here.

Team Privacy Training Events

For Primary Care clinics, Hospitals, Community Agencies, Mental Health Teams, Public Health Units, School Boards, Police departments

Scheduled to your team's needs for comprehensive or refresher training More details...

Free summary of all PHIPA IPC decisions

Want to read privacy breach stories to learn how to improve your work? We have summarized all the Information and Privacy Commissioner's health privacy decisions for you Download here...

Kate Dewhirst Health Law

Kate says:

My mission is bringing the law to life. I make legal theory understandable, accessible and fun! I’m available and love to work for all organizations in the healthcare sector across Ontario and beyond.

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    P.O. Box 13024, RPO Bradford Centre
    Bradford, ON, L3Z 2Y5

    (416) 855 9557

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