B.C.

Gov't News Release

The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner has initiated an investigation under the Personal Information Protection Act into the theft on Jan. 26, 2006 of a courier vehicle owned by MediTran Services Ltd.

The vehicle, containing hundreds of medical records, was left unlocked and running outside a medical building in Langley.

"We are deeply concerned that medical records intended for secure delivery were so easily stolen," stated the director of the office, Mary Carlson. "Privacy laws in this province require organizations to take all reasonable steps to protect personal information in their custody from unauthorized disclosure."

Carlson added, "The focus of our investigation will be on the processes and safeguards employed by MediTran to protect the personal information in medical files."

The Personal Information Protection Act, which applies to more than
300,000 private sector organizations, sets out rules governing
businesses' collection, use, disclosure and safeguarding of personal
information. Breach of the act's rules could result in an order by the
Information and Privacy Commissioner to correct deficient practices, a
lawsuit for damages suffered or court fines of up to $100,000.