Healthcare assistant shared patient’s photograph and medical information - 23HDC01607

In a decision released today, deputy health and disability commissioner Vanessa Caldwell has found a healthcare assistant and Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights (the Code).

The healthcare assistant breached the code for taking a photograph of a patient without his consent while he was in ICU and sharing it with a third party, along with details of his health status.

Te Whatu Ora breached the code for failing to adequately train staff in its privacy policies and procedures, which clearly establish that staff must hold records in strict confidence and treat patients with dignity and respect. Te Whatu Ora also requires staff to sign a security access agreement that supports these policies.