Hospitals like Rouge Valley in Toronto have an obligation to keep patient information secret.

Hospitals like Rouge Valley in Toronto have an obligation to keep patient information secret.
Photo Credit: CBC

Hospital clerk fined for breach of patient privacy

A former hospital clerk was sentenced to two years’ probation, 300 hours of community services and $45,000 in penalties for selling personal patient information to investment dealers, reports Canadian Press. Shaida Bandali pleaded guilty in August to a charge of unregistered trading.

Clerk had access to personal information

Bandali allegedly used her access to personal information about maternity patients to create lists which she then sold to one or more people selling Registered Education Savings Plans. These are investment instruments that allow Canadians to save and shelter from taxes funds that they will eventually use to pay for their children’s education.

Several laws protect Canadians’ privacy

The securities commission in the province of Ontario alleged she breached the privacy rules of the firm she worked for, the Rouge Valley Hospital group. The judge in the case is quoted by Canadian Press as saying the fine reflected the seriousness of Bandali’s breach of trust.

Canada has several laws that protect the privacy of citizens and a privacy commissioner mandated by federal government as an advocate of privacy rights.

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