Tseung Kwan O Hospital reports staff to police for unauthorized patient data leakage

Tseung Kwan O Hospital announced a case involving a staff member suspected of unauthorized access and disclosure of patient information. The hospital has reported the incident to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. As the matter may involve criminal elements and a breach of professional conduct, the hospital has also alerted the police and reported the case to the Medical Council. 

The hospital stated that after investigation, it was confirmed that an employee had accessed a patient's personal information, including their address and phone number, without authorization. It is also suspected that internal documents containing other patients' information were improperly disclosed to a third party without approval.

A hospital spokesperson emphasized that medical records involve personal privacy. Staff members are granted access to the Hospital Authority's clinical management system due to their professional roles and may only use it for approved purposes. Unless prior approval has been obtained, they are not permitted to access patients' personal information arbitrarily, let alone disclose such information externally. 

Under no circumstances should employees use such data or records for personal gain, to infringe upon the rights of others, or for any unauthorized personal purposes. The hospital stressed that such actions seriously undermine the professional integrity of healthcare workers and damage the doctor-patient relationship, and may also involve illegal activities and violations of professional ethics. Should any breaches of regulations or laws be confirmed through investigation, stern follow-up actions will be taken.

The Hospital Authority stated that it highly values staff professionalism and strictly requires all employees to adhere to the code of conduct to protect patient rights, uphold professional integrity, and maintain public trust in the medical profession.