To the editor:
I have happily been a lifelong resident of Thunder Bay. There are many things I'm proud of in our city.
At the moment, however, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is not one of them, notably due to this week's release about a supposed privacy breach.
At first glance or read of the release, the unsuspecting citizen may believe that patient interests are at the heart of Thunder Bay Regional administration’s concerns, but with careful examination, it is evident that there is more to this story.
First of all, the situation presented is one where a physician shared cases with another physician without following hospital protocol because the other physician is not affiliated with TBRHSC? Is this truly so uncommon?
Isn’t there validity or worth in consulting with the wealth of medical expertise outside of our local hospital and city? As someone completely removed from medicine, I can only assume that it would be to provide better quality care for patients.
In fact, with the insurmountable demands placed on our physicians, it is impressive that this individual would take the time to consult and get second opinions which would only benefit patients. Thank you!
TBRHSC also claims to have never had a privacy breach in its history; perhaps one that they haven’t chose to disclose to the public? As a parent of young children, I have frequented the emergency room where diagnoses and patient names are verbally disclosed within earshot of many.
In fact, it is not uncommon to walk by a monitor in those crowded hallways and see patient images on the screen with names attached.
Can it not then be argued that this is a privacy breach? I truly question the reason why the hospital administration is choosing to make an example of this physician in particular.
While I can appreciate that TBRHSC is now obligated to inform the patients in question, I am curious as to how this gets presented.
“Dear Mr. X: Your study has been reviewed by another physician? Two intellectual minds have worked to provide you with the best interpretation of your study. While this happened, the other physician was currently not affiliated with TBRHSC but was privy to your name and birthdate?”
Really? I highly doubt that with the thousands of images a physician views in a year that many names are retained in their memory.
Honestly, if I or one of my family members was getting an MRI for a potential cancer, the last thing on my mind would be whether another doctor has learned my condition or birthdate.
Personally I feel that another set of eyes for patient care takes priority, The release also claims that these cases will now be subject to review. I fail to see the purpose of misusing tax payer funds to do this considering that they have already been reviewed by two physicians. From my perspective, the only people who are losing here are the residents of Thunder Bay who have now lost an extremely talented, specialized physician yet again. I am failing to see Thunder Bay Regional’s “Giant Heart” on this one.
Z. Black,
Thunder Bay
