Improper medical record access leads to charges for former employees of Ontario hospitals: OPP

Three former employees of Ontario hospitals have been charged after investigations into allegations of “inappropriate access” of medical records, police say.

Ontario Provincial Police said that over the past year, officers with the Anti-Rackets Branch – Health Fraud Investigation Unit have charged three people after unrelated incidents.

Police said that officers became aware of complaints where employees accessed personal health information of patients attending the hospital who were “not part of their circle of care; accessed more than was reasonably required to complete their duties; and/or accessed information after their role in the patient’s care was complete.”

The alleged incidents happened in hospitals located in western, eastern and northern Ontario, police said.

Police laid charges under the Personal Health Information Protection Act.

Offences under the act can carry a maximum penalty of $200,000 and up to a year in prison, police said.

Further information wasn’t released.