VIHA Accidentally Releases Confidential Information
VICTORIA – Human Error – that’s how the Vancouver Island Health Authority explains an envelope containing confidential information about a dozen people that has fallen into the hands of the NDP Health Services Critic Adrian Dix. “Unfortunately the health care system is a human system, breaches of privacy occur and every step is taken to rectify the problem as soon as possible” says the health authority’s Suzanne Germain.
VIHA says it discovered on Tuesday the envelope was mailed from its Royal Oak Health Unit to the home of a patient. The health authority says it apologized to the recipient, and twice tried to pick-up the envelope from the senior’s home, who refused to give it back.
It seems the patient who received the records in the mail instead began calling the other people whose records were inside the envelope including 91 year-old Catherine McLaren. “I was just shocked when my son phoned on Friday to say these records were out on the loose. They’re private, it really shocked me badly” she says.
Dix marched the health records right into the office of the Privacy Commissioner on Fort Street, urging the Commissioner to launch an investigation into a violation of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
VIHA says it hasn’t been able to call the affected patients because it doesn’t know whose info is in the envelope, and says turning over the forms to a politician was the wrong move. “Once you have information or items in your possession that you don’t own and you’ve told others you have them, you have an obligation to give it backthat someone wants to make this a political issue is very disturbing” adds Germain.
Dix says VIHA doesn’t respect its patients privacy, and Catherine McLaren wants an apology. The health authority says it will pick up the patients’ records Friday from the Privacy Commissioner’s office, and begin the process of notifying those affected that a mistake was made.
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