Calgary pharmacist suspended after accessing health records without authorization
A Calgary pharmacist has been suspended by the Alberta College of Pharmacy (ACP) after they found she had accessed a person's electronic health records (Netcare) without "any authorized purpose."
Officials say it only happened once, while 34-year-old Sin Young (Jenny) Park was working with Alberta Health Services, and that the person whose health records she accessed wasn't a patient or anyone she had a "personal relationship" with.
"The hearing tribunal found that Park misused her authority as a health information custodian and pharmacist," said ACP in a news release.
Though there's no evidence to suggest that Park shared the person's health information with anyone, the tribunal found her conduct to be unprofessional and warranting of sanctions.
"The requirement for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to properly collect, use, disclose and safeguard Albertans’ health information is an essential element in pharmacy professionals being authorized to have access to Netcare," said ACP.
"When health information is accessed and used for an unauthorized purpose, the integrity of the profession is eroded."
The tribunal imposed "significant" penalties on Park, but did note she had no previous history of unprofessional conduct.
Park was handed a reprimand and three-month suspension.
She must also disclose the tribunal's written decision to any pharmacy employer or licensee for the next two years, and pay back 25 per cent of the costs of the investigation and hearing – approximately $5,900.
The tribunal’s complete decision on merit and sanctions can be found on the ACP website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Milton increases to a Category 4 hurricane as Florida prepares for massive evacuations
Milton rapidly strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane Monday on a path toward Florida population centers including Tampa and Orlando, threatening a dangerous storm surge in Tampa Bay and setting the stage for potential mass evacuations less than two weeks after a catastrophic Hurricane Helene swamped the coastline.
Canadian scurvy case prompts advisory to doctors: It's still out there
Scurvy is not just an archaic diagnosis of 18th-century seafarers and doctors should be on the lookout for possible cases, according to researchers following a recent case.
Lawyers for Madeleine McCann suspect seek acquittal in his German trial on unrelated sexual offence charges
Lawyers for a man who is also under investigation in the 2007 disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann called on Monday for him to be acquitted in his trial on charges of unrelated sexual offences.
Madonna's brother, Christopher Ciccone, dead at 63
Christopher Ciccone, a multihyphenate artist, dancer, designer and younger brother of Madonna, has died. He was 63.
Alleged suicide kit salesman files in Supreme Court to contest whether assisted suicide can ever be murder
Lawyers representing the Ontario man accused of selling hundreds of suicide kits with deadly effect around the globe have filed to intervene in a case in Canada’s highest court, arguing there is no way he can be charged with murder under Canadian law.
DEVELOPING Police in several cities to increase presence ahead of Oct. 7 anniversary
On the anniversary of the Hamas-led attacks in Israel, police departments in cities across Canada are increasing their presence in Jewish and Muslim communities, as well as at the locations of planned protests.
Rare cloud formations ripple the sky over Ottawa
A unique form of clouds made an appearance over the skies of Ottawa on Sunday evening.
Man arrested after stealing Vancouver police cruiser, driving it into neighbourhood park
A man stole a police car and drove it onto the field of an East Vancouver park Sunday morning, placing 'dozens of bystanders in harm’s way,' according to police.
War rages on multiple fronts as Israel marks a year since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack
Israelis held sombre ceremonies on Monday to mark a year since the deadliest attack in the country's history, a Hamas-led raid that shattered its sense of security and ignited wars on two fronts with no end in sight.