Health and Community Services
December 20, 2016
Protecting Personal Health Information
Minister Announces First Review of Personal Health Information Act
The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services, has announced the first statutory review of the Personal Health Information Act and has appointed a statutory review committee. The act establishes rules that custodians of personal health information must follow when collecting, using and disclosing individuals’ confidential personal health information.
“Personal health Information is unique in that it is both highly sensitive and personal, yet it must be shared, often without delay across a range of health care providers. This legislation both improves patient privacy and maintains patients’ access to what is essentially their own health information. I am pleased to announce the first statutory review of this important legislation and look forward to receiving the report of the committee.”
- The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services
The minister has appointed Dr. David Morgan as chairperson of the review committee. Dr. Morgan will be supported by Dr. Daryl Pullman, Jeannie House and Marian Crowley. Given the vital oversight role of the Office of Information and Privacy Commissioner with the act, the Information and Privacy Commissioner was consulted in regard to the review process.
“Technological, scientific and other advances make it essential that legislation protecting our personal health information evolves to meet those challenges. We are pleased that the PHIA review is underway. The commitment to transparency in the review process ensures all interested parties can meaningfully contribute.”
- Donovan Molloy, QC, Information and Privacy Commissioner
The act, proclaimed in 2011, is required to undergo a review once every five years.
A website and opportunities for public consultations will launch in January 2017.
Those interested in making submissions as part of the review should contact the PHIA Review Chairperson at PHIAReview@gov.nl.ca, or by mail:
PHIA Review Chairperson
Department of Health and Community Services
Confederation Building
St. John's, NL
A1B 4J6
QUICK FACTS
- The first statutory review of the Personal Health Information Act has been announced.
- The act sets rules that custodians of personal health information must follow when collecting, using and disclosing confidential personal health information.
- A website and opportunities for public consultations will launch in January 2017.
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Media contact:
|
Emily Timmins Media Relations Manager Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-6986, 693-1292 emilytimmins@gov.nl.ca |
Donovan Molloy, QC Information and Privacy Commissioner 709-729-6309 commissioner@oipc.nl.ca |
BACKGROUNDER
Members of the Personal Health Information Act Statutory Review Committee
Dr. David Morgan
Dr. David Morgan is the principal consultant for Morgan Privacy Consulting. Dr. Morgan has more than 10 years of experience working in the field of information privacy, and has contributed to many provincial electronic health initiatives, including the provincial electronic record and the Personal Health Information Act Online Education Program.
Dr. Morgan is an active contributor to the privacy community, having authored articles, spoken at conferences, and served on professional advisory boards. He has served on the Provincial Health Research Ethics board, and co-chaired the Canada Health Infoway pan-Canadian Health Information Privacy Group which won the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) Privacy Innovation Award in 2014.
Dr. Daryl Pullman
Dr. Daryl Pullman is Professor of Medical Ethics in the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University and has clinical ethics appointments with Eastern Health and the Provincial Health Ethic Network for Newfoundland and Labrador (PHENNL). Dr. Pullman has been funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Genome Canada, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). He is currently serving on advisory boards for the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, and the Canadian Frailty Network, and is a member of the Ethics Committee for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Jeannie House
Jeannie House left private law practice to work with the Provincial Government in legislative policy analysis, and then as Director, Advocacy and Information with the Newfoundland and Labrador Health Boards Association. She is currently serving the final year as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Health Research Ethics Authority. Ms. House has also worked with the provincial Department of Health and Community Services in drafting of provincial standards for genetics research, drafting legislation for the single province-wide Health Research Ethics board and legislation governing health information. She has also been involved with planning province-wide consultations for the draft health information legislation. Ms. House has been a member of the Board of the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Applied Health Research, the Advisory Committee for the CIHR Regional Partnership Program-Newfoundland and Labrador, a clinical assistant professor in the Division of Community Medicine of Memorial University Medical School and chaired the Provincial Vice Presidents’ Committee for Patient Safety, Quality Improvement and Research.
Marian Crowley
Marian Crowley has almost 40 years of experience in the health care system working with Eastern Health, and prior to her retirement, was Director of the Access and Privacy Department. She has contributed to numerous provincial committees and working groups to support the implementation and interpretation of the Personal Health Information Act. Ms. Crowley holds a Master’s degree in Nursing, completed the Information Access and Protection of Privacy Certificate from the University of Alberta, and is a certified Genetic Counsellor.
2016 12 20 10:35 a.m.