Australian Health Privacy Breach, 22 March 2023

Health worker sacked over ‘serious breach’ of patients’ privacy as ACT government investigates data misuse

Private records of some Canberra Health Services patients ‘deliberately’ sent to industrial partner

Source: Health worker sacked over ‘serious breach’ of patients’ privacy as ACT government investigates data misuse | ABC News (Australia)
Source: Private records of some Canberra Health Services patients ‘deliberately’ sent to industrial partner | ABC News (Australia)

View more incidents from the MEdical and Health Care sector, Insider Threat, and Australian Capital Terority.

The ACT government has sacked one employee and stood down two others as it investigates what it says is a “serious” and “deliberate” misuse of patient data.

Canberra Health Services (CHS) revealed this week that staff had sent the clinical records of 13 mental-health patients to an “industrial partner”, which the government has refused to name.

CHS chief executive Dave Peffer said he became aware of the alleged privacy breaches last month, which had occurred over several years.

Today, Mr Peffer said his agency — which operates public hospitals, walk-in clinics and community health services — had sacked one employee and stood down two others.

The government said the unnamed entity that received the confidential data was not a health insurance fund.

However, it would not provide further information, saying police would be dealing with the matter.