Employee dismissed after “significant privacy breach” at New Brunswick hospital
An employee at the Charlotte County Hospital in St. Stephen, N.B. has been dismissed after they "inappropriately accessed" the personal health information of 1,251 people.
The Horizon Health Network is calling it a "significant privacy breach."
The health authority hasn't confirmed the period of time the breaches occurred.
"As part of Horizon's investigation into this matter, we believe there is no evidence to suggest any health information was shared with anyone else," said Margaret Melanson, Horizon's vice-president of Quality and Patient-Centred Care, in a written statement to CTV on Wednesday.
Horizon isn't confirming any other details about the dismissed employee to CTV, but letters have been mailed to the people who had their information accessed.
A copy of the letter from Horizon, obtained by CTV, said an internal audit identified the employee's unauthorized access to information in an investigation that finished April 19. The letter, from Horizon's chief privacy officer Kelly Chase, said the employee worked inside the hospital's health records department.
The Office of the Ombud confirms its own investigation of the breach is underway. The office says it won't comment on any specifics of its investigation except to say the breach appears to be more a matter of "snooping" than any sort of technical failure.
Both Horizon and the Ombud say its offices are accepting formal complaints from people who've received privacy breach notices.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
BREAKING Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
Honda expected to announce Ontario EV battery plant, part of a $15B investment
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Honda executives are expected to announce today that the Japanese automaker is building an electric vehicle battery plant in Alliston, Ont., part of a $15-billion investment.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Metro Vancouver mayors call for serial killer Robert Pickton to be denied parole
A dozen mayors from around Metro Vancouver say federal Attorney General and Justice Minister Arif Virani should deny parole for notorious B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, and reassess the parole and sentencing system for 'prolific offenders and mass murderers.'
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.