Navigating Privacy Law: A Practical Guide For Private Sector Regulated Health Professionals In Ontario

In a digital world with highly sophisticated emerging technologies, the need to protect personal information is an essential mandate for health care professionals. The right to privacy is a human right that seeks to protect the individual's identity and dignity. Its value should never be underestimated as a privacy breach could cause significant harm to an individual including bodily harm, humiliation, financial damage, reputational damage, loss of employment and identity theft.

For private sector regulated health professionals ("RHPs") in Ontario, protecting personal health information in relation to its collection, use, and disclosure is a focus of legal responsibility but also a source of confusion. Given the numerous and overlapping nature of Canadian privacy laws, it can be challenging for private sector RHPs to navigate their legal obligations.