The Canadian Privacy Law Blog: Developments in privacy law and writings of a Canadian privacy lawyer, containing information related to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (aka PIPEDA) and other Canadian and international laws.

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The author of this blog, David T.S. Fraser, is a Canadian privacy lawyer who practices with the firm of McInnes Cooper. He is the author of the Physicians' Privacy Manual. He has a national and international practice advising corporations and individuals on matters related to Canadian privacy laws.

For full contact information and a brief bio, please see David's profile.

Please note that I am only able to provide legal advice to clients. I am not able to provide free legal advice. Any unsolicited information sent to David Fraser cannot be considered to be solicitor-client privileged.

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The views expressed herein are solely the author's and should not be attributed to his employer or clients. Any postings on legal issues are provided as a public service, and do not constitute solicitation or provision of legal advice. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained herein or linked to. Nothing herein should be used as a substitute for the advice of competent counsel.

This web site is presented for informational purposes only. These materials do not constitute legal advice and do not create a solicitor-client relationship between you and David T.S. Fraser. If you are seeking specific advice related to Canadian privacy law or PIPEDA, contact the author, David T.S. Fraser.

Thursday, October 06, 2005

Incident: Medical records blowing in the wind in Toronto

This really sounds like a comedy of errors that ceases to be funny when you realize the real medical records from real people are involved. The Canadian Press is reporting that a recycling company gave away -- yes, gave away -- loads of medical records to a movie company for use as props. They were strewn about a movie set to make it look like New York on September 11th. The Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner is on the case:

Bloomberg.com: Disney Unit Probed for Using Real Medical Records, Star Says:
"Oct. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Walt Disney Co.'s Touchstone Television will be investigated for possibly breaking Ontario privacy laws when it used real patient medical records during a filming in Toronto, the Toronto Star said today.
The ``fake garbage'' that littered a downtown street yesterday for the filming of a show about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S. were actually medical documents, including ultrasounds and X-rays, from a Toronto clinic. They included patient names and addresses and government health insurance numbers, the newspaper said.
Ontario privacy commissioner Ann Cavoukian said she would begin an investigation, the Star reported. Ontario's Ministry of Health also plans to start an investigation, spokesman David Spencer told the newspaper.
An unidentified Touchstone Television spokesman told the Star the company removed the documents from the scene when it learned of the contents and they would not be used again..."

Labels: health information, information breaches