Category: Privacy

I just found this freedom of information resource and thought others might not have known about it either. It is intended as a document for the general public to understand freedom of information laws in Ontario. It is also useful for provincial and municipal freedom of information and privacy co-ordinators. How wonderful! Thank you Ministry… Read more »

There is a new health privacy decision 75 of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario. Bottom line for health care organizations: If a client has died, you have to be careful about the release of health records to the estate trustees under the will.  If the will appoints multiple estate trustees (executors) – you… Read more »

Decision 74 just released by the Information and Privacy Commissioner is another snooping case. My summary of all the IPC decisions is available here. A physician used a hospital’s electronic health record system to look at the records of a patient numerous times without authorization.  The physician was related to the patient by marriage and… Read more »

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

According to a CBC report published yesterday, a home medical services company was recently hacked and tens of thousands of health records for home care patients across Ontario were held for ransom. The home care company issued a public statement in June 2018 confirming that it had been the victim of a cyber attack. A group… Read more »

Calling all Health Privacy Officers. You need to read the just  released PHIPA Decision 73 from the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario. Bottom Line: This decision has an impact on all health care organizations in Ontario.  Communications with your insurer, such as HIROC, may be accessible through PHIPA access requests. This is not your run… Read more »

Disclaimer: I’m not a GDPR expert by any stretch of the imagination.   GDPR stands for the General Data Protection Regulation – it came into force today – May 25, 2018. It provides new protections for citizens of the European Union.  Here is a great website with videos and text to explain it. You may be wondering… Read more »

IPC just released Decision 72 It’s another correction request. The IPC decided not to review the complaint. The medical clinic did not have to make the correction. A medical clinic received a correction request asking that a specific reference prepared by a physician be removed. The author physician had died. The clinic refused the request…. Read more »

The Information and Privacy Commissioner was in Hamilton, ON on Friday with one of the popular “Reaching Out to Ontario” road shows. The Commissioner provided an update on Latest Developments at the IPC. Here are some highlights: The IPC received 629 health privacy complaints in 2017 – up from 269 in 2006 The vast majority… Read more »

Ransomware and phishing attacks are rampant in health care. Ever get an email from a bank you don’t use saying your account has been compromised? Ever get a message from a company with whom you do business saying “Click on this link to update your profile”? But you think to yourself, hmmmm, that’s weird, I… Read more »