Ford health records leak could prosecute two

Two persons could face prosecution based on the recommendations of Ontario’s privacy commissioner alleged unauthorized access of former Toronto mayor Rob Ford’s health records earlier this year.

Brian Beamish, the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, has referred two names to the attorney general “for prosecution relating to the unauthorized access of Toronto City Councillor Rob Ford’s medical records at the University Health Network in January 2015,” a spokesperson for Beamish has been quoted by a leading TV channel.

A series of alleged privacy breaches have been reported since his diagnosis of liposarcoma last September.Two people gained “inappropriate access” to the then-mayor’s medical records at Humber River Hospital in October, due to what was called a “security lapse.”The hospital didn’t say whether the individuals were staff members, but said “appropriate disciplinary action was being taken” against them.

A week earlier, Mount Sinai Hospital announced a similar breach of privacy. Two staff members not involved in Ford’s care were disciplined after accessing Ford’s medical records.

If found guilty, those alleged to have looked at Ford’s records could be fined up to $50,000 each under the Personal Health Information Protection Act.