“What I may see or hear in the course of treatment in regard to the life of men, which on no account one must spread abroad, I will keep to myself.....”
— Hippocratic Oath taken by every physician

The importance of privacy of health information has been recognized for over two thousand years, since the time of Hippocrates. Given the highly sensitive and personal nature of information disclosed in mental health interactions, privacy of information for mental health patients is even more critical for allowing and maintaining a therapeutic environment.  As the Canadian Psychiatric Association has stated, "Without confidentiality there can be no trust; without trust there can be no therapy."

With advancing technology and increasing ease of access to information, it has become even more crucial that appropriate safeguards for patient privacy are maintained. Dr. Gaind has advocated for over a decade on the particular sensitivities and confidentiality considerations that must be applied to patient mental health information, and continues to work in this area as medical record processes transition to an increasingly digital world.

 
National Globe & Mail editorial on proposed privacy legislation and impact on mental health records [click above to read]

National Globe & Mail editorial on proposed privacy legislation and impact on mental health records [click above to read]

 
Coverage in National Post on intrusive requests for information in patient mental health records [click above to read]

Coverage in National Post on intrusive requests for information in patient mental health records [click above to read]

 

Follow on Twitter, connect on LinkedIn, or check out some pix on SmugMug