Patients Canada supports Bill 119: Strengthening privacy and accountability for Ontario's patients

TORONTO, March 11, 2016 /CNW/ - As a national, independent organization that champions a health care system that works for patients, we at Patients Canada support the proposed amendments set out in Bill 119, the Health Information Protection Act (HIPA). This Bill more accurately reflects patient values around privacy, transparency and accountability.

Patients Canada submitted input to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy regarding Bill 119, including how patients and their families will gain from the proposed re-write of the Quality of Care Information Act (QCIPA), as it will prevent health care facilities from withholding specified information from patients following a critical incident, which we believe is essential.

The Bill also addresses electronic health records (EHR) and provides specific provisions for a patient's ability to withdraw consent for the use and disclosure of personal health information.

"The proposed privacy framework is a welcome development as the patient journey includes points of care that are often disconnected," says Michael Decter, Board Chair of Patients Canada, "secure and reliable access to a shared EHR system will contribute to more systematized care, increased accountability and improved patient outcomes."

Learn more at patientscanada.ca.

SOURCE Patients Canada

Christina Spencer, Patients Canada, [phone] ext. 1, [email protected]