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HSE quizzed on tests confidentiality
HSE chief executive Paul Reid Pic: RollingNews.ie
19 May 2020 / COVID-19 Print

HSE quizzed on tests confidentiality

The chief executive of the HSE has told an Oireachtas committee that its process is to inform individuals of COVID-19 test results through their GPs.

Paul Reid’s comments came after an RTÉ News report that in many cases of "mass screening", where an entire workforce in a facility was tested, the HSE issued the results to employers. In some cases, the report said, this happened before staff were informed.

Complaints

The Data Protection Commission said it had received a number of complaints about the practice.

Mr Reid told Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy there were extremely exceptional cases where public health officials had a responsibility and a derogation in managing a major outbreak.

Earlier, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan told the committee that "employers should not be receiving results for employees", and the practice was "a breach of confidentiality, full stop".

Gazette Desk
Gazette.ie is the daily legal news site of the Law Society of Ireland

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