Files on 39 addiction treatment clients found in Regina dumpster, privacy commissioner says
A recent report from the province’s privacy commissioner says the Métis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan Inc. (MACSI) failed to take appropriate steps after patient treatment files were discovered in a recycling bin.
Commissioner Ronald Kruzeniski was alerted of the privacy breach on Aug. 5, 2022, after receiving a report that files with the information of MACSI patients had been found in a bin in the Douglas Park area of Regina, according to the March 15 report.
Office staff were sent to investigate, eventually recovering 174 pages of documents from the bin that included treatment details, contact information, birthdates, health card numbers and location of 39 patients, Kruzeniski says.
An interview with MACSI staff revealed the files were dumped sometime after lunch on Aug. 4, the report says.
“The records were dumped in an unsecured recycling bin, and anyone who came to the bin would have the ability to view or even take the MACSI records,” Kruzeniski said.
“MACSI lost total control of the records, including who could have potentially viewed or taken them from the bin.”
After learning of the discovery, staff at MACSI waited an entire week before searching the bin for additional records, the report says, meaning any medical records left behind could have been accessed by others.
This search of the bin was the only step the organization took to contain the privacy breach, Kruzeniski writes. The organization made no attempt to learn if the recycling bin had been emptied in the week between when staff learned of the breach and when they did a follow-up search.
MACSI also failed to notify the 39 people whose private information was breached, arguing they were vulnerable clients and did not have contact information, the report says.
Kruzeniski says the organization could still have posted notices in its offices and on its website.
“I find MACSI did not make enough effort to provide notification to affected individuals,” he said.
In investigating the privacy breach, MACSI told the commissioner the files were improperly disposed of due to human error. Papers had been placed on top of their shredder, which had a paper jam at the time.
“However, MACSI was not able to conclude how the materials went from being placed on top of the shredder to ending up in the recycling bin,” said Kruzeniski.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man books $7,700 luxury villa on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he was charged more than $7,700 to book a luxury villa on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.