Doctor Fined 20,000 Euros for Leaving Patient Prescriptions Unguarded
The Privacy Guarantor has issued a hefty fine of 20,000 euros to a doctor who left patient prescriptions unguarded in a container on the external wall of his clinic. The fine was imposed after it was discovered that the unsecured prescriptions were freely accessible to anyone who passed by and wanted to open the box affixed to the clinic’s wall.
The investigation into the doctor’s actions began with an inquiry by the NAS (anti-adulteration and health protection unit) and included testimonies from some of the doctor’s clients. These testimonies confirmed that the unsecured prescriptions had indeed been accessed by individuals who were not authorized to do so.
In response to the investigation, the doctor explained that the method of leaving prescriptions in the container had been implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic and was later maintained with the consent of the patients to facilitate prescription collection and limit patient access to the clinic.
However, the Privacy Guarantor reiterated that while health information can be communicated to third parties under certain legal bases or with the written delegation of the patient, it should never be widely disseminated. Leaving unsecured prescriptions within everyone’s reach was deemed a violation of patient privacy, as it allowed the dissemination of personal health data.
The Authority also took into account the large number of patients impacted and the duration of the violation in determining the amount of the fine. The investigations were carried out over a period of several months, from February 9, 2023, to April 4, 2023.
The doctor has been penalized for failing to protect the privacy of his patients and for disregarding the appropriate measures to secure their personal health information. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding patient confidentiality and the consequences of failing to do so.