Access to patient information carefully monitored: foundation
Posted Nov 5, 2010 05:43:18 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The head of the QEII foundation says no one is asking for unlimited access to patients’ personal information in order to fundraise.
Bill Bean says the foundation wants current legislation on health care information changed so that the release of patient information to fundraisers is governed by “implied consent,” rather than “express consent.”
He tells the Herald express consent means someone has to expressly give permission for fundraisers to contact them. Implied consent involves patients opting-out of that process at a later time.
Foundation officials say the names of potential donors will be carefully screened for anyone in a sensitive situation, and only a name and mailing address would be released.
Bean says other provinces have worked with “implied consent” for years without issue. The health minister has directed staff to look into the request and provide more details on how patients’ privacy would be protected.
