Tasmania's Ombudsman has lambasted the state's health department for its 'obstruction' to a patient's request to access their full medical record, urging the Department to 'cease this practice immediately'.
The department refuses to release the names of treating medical staff, and in at least one case, would only do so if the patient promised not to sue the state.Tasmania's Ombudsman has urged the department to cease this practice – but it's not the first time he's made this demand.
Last year, Phillips Taglieri made an RTI request on behalf of a client seeking their medical records, but received this response from a department senior legal adviser. "We are aware of at least one other law firm who has received emails requesting an undertaking not to sue in return for access to medical records."
Phillips Taglieri senior associate Alex Kendall took the matter to the Ombudsman, and argued that this information was crucial in determining liability. Ombudsman Richard Connock is also Tasmania's Health Complaints Commissioner. He's spent years telling the department to change its practices to no avail.The Department argued that the identity of medical practitioners could be found during the court process, rather than beforehand, and that disclosing them was not in the public interest. It also argued that it must provide a safe work environment.
"I am disappointed that I am required to make this finding, having consistently expressed this position for many years, including in decisions relating to the Department.Department says staff should identify themselves anyway
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