If you’ve been focused on COVID-19 response and transitioning to virtual care over the last few months, you may have missed that there have been some big changes to Ontario’s health privacy law, the Personal Health Information Protection Act. What did you miss?? Here’s a recap of Bill 188, Bill 138, and two sets of… Read more »

There have been some interesting health privacy decisions out of the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s Office in the last few months. Here’s a recap: Decisions 119 and 121 – May and June 2020 Key Take Away Message: When there is a dispute over whether a health care organization has completed a “reasonable search”, the organization… Read more »

2 months! You may be wondering where I went. Actually, you probably weren’t wondering anything because like me you have probably been trying to figure out how to navigate the waters of your new life! I’ve been thinking. Reflecting. Worrying (a little). Creating. Rejuvenating. Today is the 4th anniversary of our health law firm. A… Read more »

I have noticed over the last month that the tone of conversations has changed and social critique has resurfaced. Individuals are rightly asking more questions. There is greater need in all aspects of life and public service for clarity and certainty.  There are more queries and complaints about the impact of decisions made in the… Read more »

The Ontario government has passed an emergency order under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act allowing the disclosure of COVID-19 status information by laboratories and medical officers of health to specified people including police officers, firefighters, and paramedics. The government’s press release states that the purpose of the Order is to protect first responders,… Read more »

I just got an email today that read … This is an anonymous email, asked to be sent to you to inform you about the possibility of coming in to contact with a family member/colleague/neighbor who has contracted the COVID19 Virus in your office/area. A test at your nearest hospital will be done free of… Read more »

I am getting questions such as: “how do I talk to my board about the risks as we move to virtual care and staff working from home?” Interim v. Long-term You will definitely want to explain that we are in the early days of responding to the pandemic. Our solutions now are our interim solutions…. Read more »

The global pandemic COVID-19 has left us all feeling unsettled at best. Some of us have no work. Some of us have too much work. Regardless of what camp you find yourself in – I thought this might be a message worth sharing. I was reminded this morning that I cannot be all things to… Read more »

I was interviewed by my friend and coach Teresa Easler for her Truth in High Heels Podcast. In this episode we cover: Why I identify as an “entrepreneur” even more than as a “lawyer” How I chose to specialize in healthcare law Following my values through opportunities and tragedies What I did after I discovered… Read more »

This blog post is written by Maria McDonald of McDonald HR Law COVID-19 and the Primary Care Workplace Public Health Ontario Guidelines Primary healthcare employers have been receiving daily updates from Public Health Ontario regarding COVID-19 practice guidelines.These guidelines are intended to protect the safety of patients and employees. It is vitally important that primary… Read more »