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HIPS Privacy Seminar

HIPS Seminar

A Response to the ALRC Privacy Review

November 22nd 2007

Microsoft Theater

1 Epping Road North Ryde

Sydney

 

 Presentations from the Seminar are availbale in the HIPS Library

Program

  • Seminar Agenda
  • 9:00 coffee and arrival
  • 9:30 Prof Croll, chair of HIPS, "the ALRC proposals and the impact on health informaticians"
  • 10:15 Open floor discussion from participants.
  • 10:30 Coffee and Networking
  • 11:00 Microsofts perspective on Privacy and Security. John Galligan, Director for Corporate Affairs ,
  • 11:30 Setting the agenda - what are the show stoppers, structured discussion chaired by Dr Brendan Lovelock
  • 12:00 Susan Smith, Cardiac Surgical Register Coordinator, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane "The organisational impact on research, quality assurance and clinical audit"
  • 12:30 Lunch
  • 1:00 Invited guest speaker, Professor Michael Frommer
  • 1:30 Views of the HISA board members
  • 2:00 Structured floor discussion - what message do we give the ALRC?
  • 3:00 Finish, Coffee and Networking until 3:30

 

Seminar Invitation from HIPS Chairman: Prof Peter Croll

The Australian Law Reform Commission has released a discussion paper #72 on the ‘Review of the Australian Privacy law'. They welcome feedback from the community and request submissions by the 7th December 2007. Health Informatics Privacy and Security forum (HIPS) is keen to make a submission on behalf of the Health Informatics Society of Australia (HISA). The discussion paper is almost 2000 pages as it addresses all aspects of privacy to include not only the laws but current and future technologies and specific industry sectors. The ‘Health Services and Research', part H is detailed over 155 pages (click here to can access this paper at the HIPS library) . Health Information will not be getting their own privacy laws but will get special treatment under new rules and guidelines. Note that the recommendations do include a provision for specific legislation to cover the proposed Unique Health Identifiers and Shared EHRs as being drawn up by NEHTA.

In my view it is clear with the proposals there is a move towards a much needed unified approach but will we still in practice have the dual state regulations for public services and federal for private?  I note that a lot of trust is being placed with the Human Research Ethic Committees (see research section) but viewed across the nation how well qualified are they to ensure research for public interest is undertaken and not blocked by our bureaucracies citing privacy concerns? It would appear that the whole consent issue has been sidestepped with a question. Only the exceptions are addressed in the proposals. As one practitioner put it to me "does that mean every time a clinician enters a note on a patients chart they will have to ask permission in case it forms part of the shared EHR?" 

To address these issues HIPS will be holding a special one day forum in Sydney on the 22nd November. Microsoft have kindly agreed to host this event.

To give you an indication of the ALRC proposals I have summarized them according to the three sections used in the discussion paper (the full version can be found here http://www.alrc.gov.au/). In total there are 28 proposals plus one open question for discussion. The following list is just to give you an indication of the topic areas. I would encourage you to look at the full versions which we have listed in the HIPS web site (see, www.hisa.org.au/hips). In our web site you will also find the earlier submission we made to the ALRC that followed our successful February forum. I do hope you can find time to attend and I am sure you will find it a stimulating and informative discussion. (click here to view summaries)

Prof Peter Croll
(Chair, HIPS)

Click here to see a summary of the health sections of the ALRC discussion paper No72

 

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