Medical Records - Privacy and Confidential Breach

Discussion in 'Legal Issues' started by Never giveup, 3rd Aug, 2021.

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  1. Never giveup

    Never giveup Well-Known Member

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    Hi All,

    I hope this is the correct place to ask this question...

    Has anyone experienced the breach issue with their medical records where GP or other Medical Centre have sent your senstuve records to someone else via email?

    How you handled it?
     
    Never giveup, 3rd Aug, 2021
    #1
  2. Scott No Mates

    Scott No Mates Well-Known Member

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    Provided it wasn't to the bank, no harm done.
     
    Scott No Mates, 3rd Aug, 2021
    #2
  3. Never giveup

    Never giveup Well-Known Member

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    So you are comfortable with random person getting your medical record for tests, your addresa and all other imp information mentiones on reports?
     
    Never giveup, 3rd Aug, 2021
    #3
  4. The Y-man

    The Y-man Moderator Staff Member

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    By mistake?

    The Y-man
     
    The Y-man, 3rd Aug, 2021
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  5. wylie

    wylie Moderator Staff Member

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    What actually happened?
     
    wylie, 3rd Aug, 2021
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  6. Never giveup

    Never giveup Well-Known Member

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    We requested our reports from a clinics and tgey send us a form to complete.

    Once submitted they sent varios documents however they put 1 wrong email id and all the senstive medical data has gone to someone rabdom with our personal details
     
    Never giveup, 3rd Aug, 2021
    #6
  7. Scott No Mates

    Scott No Mates Well-Known Member

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    Human error, what can you do other than expect that the person on the receiving end deletes the email once they discover that they have received it by mistake & have notified the sender.
     
    Scott No Mates, 3rd Aug, 2021
    #7
    craigc and Never giveup like this.
  8. Firefly99

    Firefly99 Well-Known Member

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    Depends on who they were sent to and what was in there.
     
    Firefly99, 3rd Aug, 2021
    #8
  9. Never giveup

    Never giveup Well-Known Member

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    Its a random valid email address and it has the medical info
     
    Never giveup, 3rd Aug, 2021
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  10. Simon Hampel

    Simon Hampel Founder Staff Member

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    Here is where you go to complain about privacy breaches: Privacy complaints

    The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) is an independent agency within the Attorney-General’s portfolio. Our primary functions are privacy, freedom of information and government information policy. Our responsibilities include conducting investigations, reviewing decisions, handling complaints, and providing guidance and advice.​
     
    Simon Hampel, 3rd Aug, 2021
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    The Y-man, qak and wylie like this.
  11. Never giveup

    Never giveup Well-Known Member

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    Thank you @Simon Hampel

    Will read on the provided link. I have also asked the organisation to provide update on this issue
     
    Never giveup, 3rd Aug, 2021
    #11
  12. wylie

    wylie Moderator Staff Member

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    I would hope the practice sends a follow up email asking the recipient to delete and confirm it is deleted. You will never know of course.

    I have had emails sent to someone with almost the exact spelling of my name using gmail. I found out a few years back when I received a prompt for an unpaid bill, and it wasn't until I pointed out their mistake on the quote that they believed I'd never received it.

    I make sure I out my name these days, because my name is an unusual version of a name that everyone just assumes they know how to spell.

    I emailed that person myself, no longer living in Australia, apologised for any emails she may have received and asked if she would mind sending anything she gets that clearly is not for her. She was not very helpful, not rude either, but I have no confidence she would send anything to me.

    I would be annoyed to have my medical records (or anything else really) sent to the wrong person, and would expect that doctor practice to follow this up and at least try to get them to delete it. I'm not sure if you could report this to someone (who?) so that at least these receptionists take more care.

    Edit: I see Simon has provided a place you can report this to.
     
    wylie, 3rd Aug, 2021
    #12
    Never giveup likes this.
  13. datto

    datto Well-Known Member

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    Yeah it’s happened to me a few times. Someone from a medical centre I used to visit must have known me and the next thing there’s rumours going around about an embarrassing medical condition I had.
     
    datto, 3rd Aug, 2021
    #13
  14. thatbum

    thatbum Well-Known Member

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    For the sort of thing you're describing? I got over it and I didn't give it a moment's further thought.
     
    thatbum, 4th Aug, 2021
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    noomi_nooma, MB18 and ff3 like this.
  15. abbyfresh

    abbyfresh Well-Known Member

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    Why are some clinics still using faxes and insecure email to send this stuff around between medical professionals. I thought we have moved on from that inefficient and non private form of sensitive communication.
     
    abbyfresh, 4th Aug, 2021
    #15
  16. Peter_Tersteeg

    Peter_Tersteeg Mortgage Broker Business Member

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    I periodically get emails from banks about clients that I don't know about. The emails were intended for another broker, but someone wasn't paying attention and the 'autocorrect' made a mistake. I've made the same mistake myself, everyone does. It's human error and in any system there's always ways that people can stuff things up.

    Like most reasonable people, when I realise this sort of mistake, I delete the email and think nothing more of it.
     
    Peter_Tersteeg, 4th Aug, 2021
    #16
    thatbum likes this.
  17. MTR

    MTR Well-Known Member

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    Last edited: 4th Aug, 2021
    MTR, 4th Aug, 2021
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  18. Never giveup

    Never giveup Well-Known Member

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    Never giveup, 4th Aug, 2021
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  19. Never giveup

    Never giveup Well-Known Member

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    We just completed the form they provided and they just sent an email. We were under the impression tgat registeted courier etcight be used
     
    Never giveup, 4th Aug, 2021
    #19
  20. Never giveup

    Never giveup Well-Known Member

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    Hummmmmm...i do know what you mean but otherside not replying
     
    Never giveup, 4th Aug, 2021
    #20
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