William Osler Health System adheres to legislation and principles of confidentiality when releasing patient/client information. Osler’s Media Relations Policy has been developed to ensure the media, and subsequently the public receive accurate information while protecting the confidentiality and safety of our patients, staff and physicians.
Policy statement
There are primary spokespersons authorized to speak on behalf of Osler, in interview situations set-up by the hospital:
- Board Chair
- President and Chief Executive Officer
- Chief of Staff
- Chief Operating Officer
- Vice President, Medical Affairs, Research and Academics
- Executive Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Services
- Chief Communications Officer/Associate CCO
- Director, Public Relations
Where appropriate and where approved/supported by Osler’s Public Relations team, other members of Osler’s leadership team and physicians may be authorized to speak to media.
Media requests
At all times, please direct media enquiries to Osler’s Public Relations team at 416-804-8649 or send an email through our contact form.
On-site media authorization
Although hospitals are publicly funded institutions, they are considered private property. Members of the media are permitted on hospital grounds only at the discretion of, or invitation from the hospital and must be escorted at all times while on hospital property by a member of Osler’s Public Relations team. For reasons of safety and patient confidentiality, security has the ability to remove media from an Osler site if they are unauthorized or unaccompanied.
Photographs and interviews
A consent form must be signed by the patient or family member or in the case of a minor, the consent must be signed by a parent/legal guardian, before an interview is conducted or a photo or video taken. Forms may be obtained from the Strategic Communications department. The Strategic Communications department maintains a record of the signed consent form. Permission to take a photo or video, or conduct an interview with a patient or family member must be granted by a member of Osler’s Strategic Communications team.
Release of patient information
The hospital has a legal obligation to keep health information private and confidential. No information, including confirmation that a patient has been treated and/or admitted to hospital, can be given out without the written consent of the patient, or next-of-kin in the case of an incapacitated or deceased patient. If the patient is a minor, is mentally unfit, or is deceased, a parent or legal guardian may provide consent.
Legislation
1. Public Hospitals Act
Section 22 of Regulation 965 made under the Public Hospitals Act places an obligation of confidentiality on the hospital with respect to the release of information from a medical record or from notes, charts and other material relating to patient care. Where information is to be given to the news media, section 22 requires a written request or consent signed by the patient, the patient personal representative if the patient is deceased, or the parent or other person who has lawful custody of the patient if the patient is under 16 and unmarried. If the patient is incapable of making treatment decisions, information may be released to the person authorized to make these decisions on his or her behalf. It is possible for this person to request the hospital to give specified information to the news media, in lieu of dealing with the media personally. As part of its standard practice however, Osler will only release personal health information to a patient’s family or substitute decision-maker in order to protect patient privacy and confidentiality.
2. Regulated Health Professions Act
Health professionals regulated under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 have a professional duty of confidentiality towards their patients. There are 24 regulated health professions, including physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, chiropodists, pharmacists and midwives. It is professional misconduct for a regulated health professional to breach confidentiality.
3. Coroners Act
A coroner may issue a warrant for a post-mortem examination under section 28 of the Coroners Act. The person who performs the post-mortem examination must report the findings only to the coroner who issued the warrant and the other persons listed in the section, which include the Crown Attorney, Chief Coroner and Regional Coroner.
Media enquiries during coroner cases, should be referred to the Coroner.
References
- Public Hospitals Act, Section 22 of Regulation 965.
- Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991.
- Coroners Act, Section 28.
