Cabbie wins right to private medical records
Last Updated: Friday, August 10, 2007 | 3:08 PM AT
CBC News
P.E.I.'s privacy commissioner has ruled in favour of a taxi driver who sought to keep his medical records private from government regulators.
'I'm kind of disappointed … that waiver was even approved in the first place.'— Taxi driver Neil Harpham
The ruling by the privacy commissioner could affect anyone who drives professionally. Currently people who drive buses, trucks or taxis not only need a doctor to say they're fit for the road, they also have to sign a waiver that gives the government access to their medical records.
Charlottetown taxi driver Neil Harpham thought that went too far, so he filed a complaint with the privacy commissioner and won his case. The privacy commissioner ruled that demanding blanket access to a person's medical records was too intrusive.
"I'm very happy about it. I'm kind of disappointed in the fact that even that question came there, that that waiver was even approved in the first place," said Harpham.
"For someone to take the time and effort to challenge [the waiver] is quite an undertaking. I'm not saying that to discourage anyone. I hope I'm saying that to encourage people."
A spokesperson for the Department of Transportation said the government is reviewing the decision. The government has 40 days to decide if it will challenge the ruling.
If it doesn't, the waiver must be removed within six months.
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