While we previously posted that sharing psychiatry records with other members of a patient's healthcare team or the patient themselves may help to increase the efficiency of the healthcare system, and involve patients more directly in their care among other benefits, limits or guidelines do need to be put in place with regards to the accessibility of one's sensitive mental health information.
Many individuals remain concerned over their personal health records being or becoming too accessible. Adding to that concern has been the recent news that "mental health episodes", particularly those involving suicides or suicide attempts are entered into the Canadian Police Information Centre (although it is not mandatory to do so), which the FBI and US Customs and Border Control have access to. Based on this information, the US agents then have the ability to make decisions about who can enter the country, as they did in the case of Ellen Richardson, who was not permitted to enter the US for a vacation this past fall because of her history of depression and a suicide attempt.
More information about this story, and what the Information and Privacy Commissioner is suggesting to help address this issue, can be found here:
"Canadians' Mental Health Information Routinely Shared With FBI, US Customs" (CBC News)
Many individuals remain concerned over their personal health records being or becoming too accessible. Adding to that concern has been the recent news that "mental health episodes", particularly those involving suicides or suicide attempts are entered into the Canadian Police Information Centre (although it is not mandatory to do so), which the FBI and US Customs and Border Control have access to. Based on this information, the US agents then have the ability to make decisions about who can enter the country, as they did in the case of Ellen Richardson, who was not permitted to enter the US for a vacation this past fall because of her history of depression and a suicide attempt.
More information about this story, and what the Information and Privacy Commissioner is suggesting to help address this issue, can be found here:
"Canadians' Mental Health Information Routinely Shared With FBI, US Customs" (CBC News)
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