Canada

Dozens of health-care workers snooped in the medical files of those hospitalized in last year’s Lapu-Lapu Day attack in Vancouver, a new investigation by B.C.’s privacy watchdog has revealed.

The chair of the Filipino community organization that planned the festival where the attack occurred says he was surprised and disappointed to learn Tuesday that health-care workers violated provincial privacy laws and accessed private patient information following the tragedy that killed 11 people and sent dozens more to hospital.

“The anxiety is palpable from folks who don’t know whether this very private information is out there, and some are even fearing for their safety,” Filipino BC chair RJ Aquino told The Tyee. “When people are at their most vulnerable, there should always be an expectation of trust, confidentiality and privacy.”

The revelations were contained in an investigation report released this week by B.C.’s Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. It found that 36 employees, including 35 health authority staff and one assistant working in a physician’s office, used their access to private patient health information to snoop on those hospitalized following the attack.