Privacy in Canadian Health Networks: challenges and opportunities

Privacy and security are coming under more and more scrutiny in this age of digital information that can be generated, duplicated, and transferred with increasing facility. Nowhere is this so apparent as in the field of health care, where breaches to security and privacy carry very personal and potentially harmful consequences. Health Information Networks must deal with these issues carefully as they seek to share sensitive information among health‐care providers to improve patient care. This article examines issues related to privacy in Health Information Networks in Canada, provides a summary of relevant federal and provincial legislation, and through a case study offers suggestions for future directions in the arena where health‐care and privacy issues meet.