College Raises Concerns Regarding Changes to PHIA
The government is moving forward with changes to the Personal Health Information Act (PHIA). Once enacted, physicians (and all other health professionals) will be required to disclose their patient medical records to the Minister of Health. The parameters of the Minister’s access to patient records and the specifics of the data governance have not yet been defined. In the view of the College, this new legislation will have a profound effect on medical practice and on the nature of the patient-doctor relationship which is based on trust and confidentiality. When the College was told by government of these proposed changes…