From the Guidelines
The Health Information Privacy Code in New Zealand prioritizes patient privacy, confidentiality, and dignity, emphasizing the importance of handling health information with respect and security. When considering the principles of the Health Information Privacy Code (HIPC) in New Zealand, it's crucial to focus on the aspects that directly impact patient care and privacy. Although the provided study 1 discusses privacy, confidentiality, and dignity in the context of cancer care, its principles can be broadly applied to the handling of health information.
Key Principles
- Purpose of Collection: Health information should be collected for a lawful purpose connected with the agency's functions.
- Source of Information: Health information should be collected directly from the individual concerned where possible.
- Collection from Individual: Individuals should be made aware of the collection, its purpose, and their rights.
- Storage and Security: Agencies must protect health information against loss, misuse, or unauthorized access.
- Limits on Use: The use of health information should be restricted to the purposes for which it was collected unless exceptions apply.
- Limits on Disclosure: Disclosure of health information should be prevented except in specific circumstances. These principles are designed to balance the need for privacy with the necessity of sharing health information for effective healthcare delivery, as hinted at in the discussion on privacy and dignity in patient care 1.
Application in Practice
In real-life clinical medicine, adhering to these principles ensures that sensitive personal health data is handled respectfully and securely throughout the healthcare system. This not only protects patients' rights but also fosters trust between patients and healthcare providers, which is essential for high-quality care. While the study 1 does not directly address the HIPC, its emphasis on patient privacy and dignity underscores the importance of careful and respectful handling of health information.
From the Research
Health Information Privacy Code (HIPC) Principles in New Zealand
The principles of the Health Information Privacy Code (HIPC) in New Zealand are not explicitly stated in the provided studies. However, the studies provide information on the protection of health information and privacy in New Zealand.
- The study 2 found that New Zealand's district health boards (DHBs) have practices in place to protect patient privacy when patient information is used for research, including de-identifying information, requiring individual patient consent, and using confidentiality agreements, encryption, and cybersecurity procedures.
- The study 3 discusses the legal and ethical framework relating to health information privacy and informed consent in New Zealand, and proposes an approach to implementing patient portals for young people, taking into account their best interests and rights, cultural needs, and views on information disclosure.
- The study 4 outlines the key issues in the development of a regional health information infrastructure suitable for public health data collections, and suggests strategies for securing clinical input into health data collection, including creating an information economy alongside the care economy.
- The study 5 discusses the application of FAIR principles (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability) to a health information protection and management system, and proposes a modular architecture that defines mechanisms for privacy, protection, storage, search, and access to health-related information.
- The study 6 presents an updated view of progress made in health informatics in New Zealand, including the release of a new Health Information Strategy for New Zealand 2005, which guides the use of innovative information to improve health outcomes.
Key Principles
Some key principles that can be inferred from the studies include:
- Protecting patient privacy when using patient information for research 2
- Obtaining individual patient consent and/or de-identifying information before using it for research 2
- Using confidentiality agreements, encryption, and cybersecurity procedures to protect health information 2
- Considering the best interests and rights, cultural needs, and views on information disclosure of young people when implementing patient portals 3
- Securing clinical input into health data collection 4
- Applying FAIR principles to health information protection and management systems 5