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On Taking the Data?

Posted by Cliff on from the expediency-vs-ethics-and-privacy dept.

Anonymous for the Moment asks: "While working in a grant-paid position in a big University, I had access to massive amounts of administrative health data. I was repeatedly, over the course of months, told to take data and not tell the people who were in charge of it that I had it (which is a big no-no). I informed the people who held the data, but they were mostly non-responsive, and I figured this was because they would get in trouble with the province and the people who's records they were keeping. I finally blew the whistle to the Ethics Committee, but it has been over six months, and they too have not responded. I am wondering how long I should wait before going to the media and letting the people of the province know that their data is not being treated with respect. Has anyone else had an experience where they were told to access other's data without permission? I am aware of others at my University who have been put in similar situations, but is it just my University, or is it more widespread than that?"

4 of 33 comments (clear)

  1. Go to the police now. by torpor · · Score: 5, Informative


    The longer you wait, the worse it will get for the case.

    The fact is, you have broken the law, and others have broken the law.

    There are very strict guidelines for how private records are supposed to be handled. The fact that you have encountered such a festering pool of criminality in this regard is something which needs to be brought to public light, immediately.

    Don't waste any more time 'asking slashdot', just go straight to jail, do not collect $200, and do not pass Go.

    --
    ; -- the corruption of government starts with its secrets. a truly free people keep no secrets. --
  2. If in Canada... by twilight30 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Your province should have an ombudsman and privacy commissioner as well. You will want to get a package of data or evidence together documenting this, and fire it off to the cops, ombudsman and privacy commissioner. You will also want to talk to the federal government's privacy and information access commissioners.

    The media would be a double-edged sword. Once this hits the police you won't have to worry about media interest.

    Get a lawyer, now, and don't waste any more time about it.

    --
    ========================================
    Death will come, and will have your eyes
    -- Pavese
  3. Write again to the ethics committee by jarran · · Score: 2, Informative
    Explain that you are deeply unhappy with the situation. Make it clear that you are not going to let this drop. Say that you have written to them before and received no response. Say that your next step will be to go the public/media.

    I bet you will have a response within a week. If not, wait a reasonable time (1 month) and then carry out your threat.

    1. Re:Write again to the ethics committee by ibennetch · · Score: 2, Informative

      I wouldn't write them again with a warning like this. They've been warned, they shouldn't be in the situation in the first place; if you can stand the fallout and socialogical side effects of being the one who brings this to light go for it -- call in the feds or whoever you Canadians have to report things like this to. There have got to be privacy laws that are being violated here.

      On a side note; what is so interesting about a bunch of data that you're being encuraged to dip in and help yourself to some of it?