Evaluating Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 in NSW

This report provides a critical review of the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002, focusing on its purpose, objectives, and key issues related to privacy concerns and the confidentiality of patient rights. The review highlights issues such as the potential for social and family life information to be made public, government health records being accessible to secondary users, and photos being published online. It emphasizes the importance of addressing these issues to maintain community trust in information innovations and the perceived privacy of individual health information. The report concludes that while the Act has provisions for sharing health-related information, it faces challenges in controlling accessibility, ensuring trust, and preventing the misuse of information for purposes beyond patient consent. The document references several sources to support its analysis and conclusions.

ASSESSMENT TASK
2 GROUP PROJECT

Table of content
◦ Context of document
◦ Critical review
◦ Conclusion
◦ References

Context of document
◦ The name of the act is “Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002”
◦ The main purpose of this act is to promote accountable as well as fair handling of information related to health through
◦ Protection of the privacy
◦ Gaining access to the health information
◦ Offering accessible framework for resolving complaints
◦ Objective -
◦ Safeguard the interest of the public towards privacy
◦ Increasing the individual capability
◦ Promoting the provision related to quality health services

Critical review
The Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 have different provision in relation with the retention of health
information and access to health information for health services providers and private sector person. However, the act
have three most important issues related to privacy concerns and confidentiality of patients rights.
◦ Information about the social and family life being made public
◦ Government health records made available to secondary users
◦ Photos published on internet

Continued…
◦ It is obligatory on the part of this act to address these issues for making sure that the reforms based on information
innovations have the trust of the community (Rhoen, 2016).
◦ There is a lack of trust in the perceived privacy and confidentiality of patient’s health related information and rights
◦ Trust is very essential because if there will not trust than perceived protection of the privacy of individual might have
unintended impact.

Conclusion
◦ To conclude it can be said that the current Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 have
different provision in relation with sharing of health related information, however there are many
concerns in regards with controlling the accessibility and obtainability of the health related information,
trust and utilization of information offered for subsequent uses being put for some other purposes without
the consent of the patients. Thus, it can be said that these concerns are not being addressed by this act
and it will be quite challenging for all.

Reference list
◦ Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 No 71. (2021). [Online]. Available through:
https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/act-2002-071#sec.24
◦ Research on Privacy. (2021). [Online]. Available through: https://www.ipc.nsw.gov.au/privacy/research
◦ Rhoen, M. (2016). ‘Beyond Consent: Improving Data Protection through Consumer Protection Law.
Internet Policy Review, 5(1), 3.
◦ Gonçalves, M.N. (2017).‘The EU Data Protection Reform and the Challenges of Big Data: Remaining
Uncertainties and Ways Forward. 26 Information & Communications Technology Law, 90, 114.

Thank you