ARTICLE · 07 JULY 2015

Snoops And Gossips Beware: Ontario Government To Introduce Stiffer Measures To Protect Patient Privacy

Stikeman Elliott LLP

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Recently, the Government of Ontario announced its intent to strengthen the rules protecting patient privacy.

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Stikeman Elliott LLP

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Recently, the Government of Ontario announced its intent to strengthen the rules protecting patient privacy. If passed, these amendments to the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) would include:

Mandatory reporting of privacy breaches to the Privacy Commissioner and potentially the regulatory colleges;
Allow individuals to more easily prosecute offences under PHIPA by removing the 6 month limitation period following an alleged privacy breach;
Increasing institutional fines for offences from $250,000 to $500,000;
Increasing individual fines for offences from $50,000 to $100,000; and
Clarifying how and when healthcare providers may collect, use and disclose personal health information contained in electronic health records.

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