PRIVACY

Patient privacy is central to the provision of pathology services. Any information collected about patients is subject to the requirements of the Commonwealth Privacy Act and the Victorian Government's Health Record Act.

All Gippsland Pathology Service staff are required to sign a "Confidentiality Agreement" as a condition of employment and are counselled as to the need to respect all patient's privacy at all times.

Staff found guilty of a significant breech of patient confidentiality are liable to summary dismissal.

Patient results are usually only available to the medical staff involved in the Patient's care and cannot be released to anyone else without the Patient's written permission.