Big Opt Out Campaign rallies British Columbians against privacy threats of new e-Health system
April 8th, 2009 12:00am
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The BC Government plans to roll out its new “e-Health” system of integrated electronic healthcare records as early as June 2009. The system is being launched without the basic privacy protections that were promised by government and poses a serious threat to every British Columbian’s constitutional right to privacy.
Because the government has failed to inform British Columbians about this massive and radical change to the way their personal health information is shared and managed, a group of concerned privacy advocates has launched BC’s Big Opt Out Campaign. The campaign will educate the public about the dangers of eHealth and inform them of steps they can take to protect their personal privacy, safety and well-being.
Groups involved in the campaign include FIPA, BC Civil Liberties Association and the BC Persons With AIDS Society.
The website for BC’s Big Opt Out offers denial-of-consent letters that citizens can download and personalize to help ensure the continued confidentiality of their personal health information. It also features a letter to MLAs which demands the BC Government ensure that eHealth offers the following:
<> The right of every British Columbian to determine for themselves whether or not to
participate in eHealth by giving or withholding informed consent.
<>The right of every British Columbian who decides to consent to participate in eHealth to
determine the degree of their participation.
<>The implementation of a substantial and widespread information campaign to inform all
British Columbians about eHealth, their rights and how to exercise those rights.
BIG OPT-OUT WEBSITE: http://www.bcoptout.ca
NEWS RELEASE: http://fipa.bc.ca/library/News_Releases/Big_Opt_Out_Release-Apr_7_09.pdf
For more information, contact:
Adam Reibin
Media and Communications
BC’s Big Opt Out
604.893.2209/604.612.022
admr@bcpwa.org
The BC Government plans to roll out its new “e-Health” system of integrated electronic healthcare records as early as June 2009. The system is being launched without the basic privacy protections that were promised by government and poses a serious threat to every British Columbian’s constitutional right to privacy.
Because the government has failed to inform British Columbians about this massive and radical change to the way their personal health information is shared and managed, a group of concerned privacy advocates has launched BC’s Big Opt Out Campaign. The campaign will educate the public about the dangers of eHealth and inform them of steps they can take to protect their personal privacy, safety and well-being.
Groups involved in the campaign include FIPA, BC Civil Liberties Association and the BC Persons With AIDS Society.
The website for BC’s Big Opt Out offers denial-of-consent letters that citizens can download and personalize to help ensure the continued confidentiality of their personal health information. It also features a letter to MLAs which demands the BC Government ensure that eHealth offers the following:
<> The right of every British Columbian to determine for themselves whether or not to
participate in eHealth by giving or withholding informed consent.
<>The right of every British Columbian who decides to consent to participate in eHealth to
determine the degree of their participation.
<>The implementation of a substantial and widespread information campaign to inform all
British Columbians about eHealth, their rights and how to exercise those rights.
BIG OPT-OUT WEBSITE: http://www.bcoptout.ca
NEWS RELEASE: http://fipa.bc.ca/library/News_Releases/Big_Opt_Out_Release-Apr_7_09.pdf
For more information, contact:
Adam Reibin
Media and Communications
BC’s Big Opt Out
604.893.2209/604.612.022
admr@bcpwa.org
