News
Uproar over confidentiality in New Zealand
C EssexThe confidentiality of patients' medical files will be tested in a $NZ12m (pounds sterling 4.5m) lawsuit against a government health agency. An Auckland general practitioner and 173 patients have lodged statements of claim in the Auckland high court against Health Benefits Limited alleging trespass to the doctor's surgery, invasion of privacy, breach of contract, and breach of copyright.
Health Benefits Limited is a publicly owned company run by the four regional health authorities. It was set up to administer government subsidies paid to general practitioners and other health professionals for health services provided to children and people on low incomes and for maternity services. The agency copied the files as part of an investigation into irregularities in procedures for claiming subsidies.
Chris McGuire, an Auckland lawyer, said that the patients had instructed him to take court proceedings because they were "affronted" by what had occurred. He said that they were concerned about a "reluctance to disclose exactly what had gone on in terms of authorisation" for the inspection. The court action claims that officers of the company did not have legal authority.
The police, who interviewed some of the doctor's staff, have referred the matter to the crown solicitor to decide whether charges are appropriate and if so what form they should take. Their investigations started after the company lodged a complaint alleging fraudulent claims. Police with a search warrant seized the patients' records from Health Benefits Limited. Concerns have also been raised about the independence of the police investigations because a company employee was allegedly present when the police interviewed one of the doctor's staff.
CiteULike 
Complore 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati What's this?
This Article
-
Extract
- Respond to this article
- Alert me when this article is cited
- Alert me when responses are posted
- Alert me when a correction is posted
Services
- Email this article to a friend
- Find similar articles in BMJ
- Add article to my folders
- Download to citation manager
- Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Google Scholar
PubMed
Related Content
-
General practice / family medicine
-
Confidentiality
-
Legal and forensic medicine
- Human rights
- Find this article in its weekly table of contents
Bookmark with
What's new
Latest blogs
Services
Tools
Online poll
Resources
Rapid responses for this article
There are no rapid responses for this article.Most read
Print issues
