Category: News

So very excited to share with you my brand new video series for Privacy Officers in the health sector.  And it is FREE! Watch this video for all the information and to sign up Free Privacy Officer Training Video Series

Thrilled to be celebrating 2 years at Kate Dewhirst Health Law and Law2Life Coaching. This year has been amazing and also very difficult.  When asked, I’ve been answering, “It’s been the best of times and the worst of times.” The BEST! We welcomed dozens of new clients. The heart of our work is serving healthcare… Read more »

As of July 1st, Nurse Practitioners (nurses in the extended class) in Ontario must now report certain conditions and impairments that could negatively impact an individual’s ability to drive. NPs join physicians and optometrists in this mandatory reporting duty. For all my family health teams, nurse practitioner-led clinics, community health centres, Aboriginal Health Access Centres,… Read more »

Are you having any fun? I downloaded the Starbucks app this morning and ordered my coffee and egg bites to go.  Easy. When I got to the store I announced “Hi. This is my first time. I’m so excited.”  The 4 baristas shouted in unison “hooray!”  We all laughed. (Yes, I realize I’m a bit… Read more »

It is with great sadness that I announce my little sister, Beth Ferkranus, passed away over the holidays.  It was sudden and completely unexpected.  We are all devastated.  You can read her Obituary here. I want to thank everyone for your kindness and the outpouring of love we have received. Some of you know that my sisters are… Read more »

Thrilled to announce that I was one of the winners of Best New Blog – for the Clawbies, the Canadian Law Blog Awards for 2017. The Golden Globes for lawyers! Telling stories about my work and the intersection of health care and law is a privilege and brings me great joy. Thank you for the recognition… Read more »

Calling all FHTs, FHOs, NPLCs (and birth centres) – join me and Maria McDonald from McDonald HR Law for my 5th annual Legal Issues for Primary Care Teams which will launch January 2018. Here’s the line up: January 4 – Protected leaves of absence from the workplace (including the new domestic and sexual violence leave )… Read more »

August 1st marks our one-year anniversary. And it has been a good one … By the Numbers 1 new space in downtown Toronto that I can walk to from home 2 new team members: Melissa Martin, Office Magician and Alec Myers, Head of Scrutiny (and all things expanding the business) 5 areas of focus: privacy, physician… Read more »

When asked what I do, I say “I’m a health lawyer”.  Which always gets a head tilt response: What’s that? Q: Does that mean you sue doctors? A: Nope Q: Oh, so you sue hospitals? A: Nope Then they say – Ok. I don’t get it. I explain … I work for hospitals and doctors’ offices and… Read more »

Mandatory reporting by health information custodians in Ontario to the IPC will now come into effect October 1, 2017 The new regulations requiring the mandatory reporting of privacy breaches to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario will come into effect October 1st (not July 1st as we originally expected). The link to the new… Read more »