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Hospital Employee Illegally Reveals Cancer Diagnosis
21 Oct
Summary
- A hospital employee prematurely disclosed a cancer diagnosis to a patient.
- The patient experienced a significant loss of dignity and privacy.
- The hospital apologized only after being contacted by the BBC.
A patient at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro experienced a profound violation of privacy when an employee accessed her medical records and disclosed her cancer diagnosis. Pippa Boardman, from Lostwithiel, received the distressing news over the phone from a hospital worker she knew, two days before her consultant was scheduled to deliver the results.
Boardman stated that this data breach led to a significant loss of dignity and privacy. She highlighted that the hospital's apology did not come until the BBC contacted them. The Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust acknowledged the incident, expressing deep regret for how Ms. Boardman was informed.
While the staff member had legitimate access to patient records for work, contacting Ms. Boardman was outside their professional role. The trust confirmed that immediate action was taken following an investigation once Ms. Boardman raised her concerns, and staff have been reminded of the importance of accessing records only for legitimate work-related reasons.
Ms. Boardman, who is now recovering from cancer, described the hospital's handling of the situation as part of her trauma. She felt her rights were not adequately considered, contrasting with the protection of the employee's rights. She is recovering well from cancer but emphasized the lasting damage caused by the breach.
