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Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham says he’s committing to “fix” a policy that dictates how parents access their children’s medical records, starting at the age of 12, following the implementation of the province’s new health information system.
It will start with an immediate review of the province’s Personal Health Information Act, and a commitment to new legislation in the fall.
“The implementation of the new digital health platform has exposed a fundamental misalignment between existing statutes and the expectations of families in this province. We did not create this policy, but we are going to fix it,” Wakeham said in an emailed statement to CBC News.
Wakeham’s statement responds to a letter sent to all parents of school-age children by Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services. It outlines how parents can access their children’s medical records under the MyHealthNL online tool.
MyHealthNL was implemented in April as part of the new CorCare system, which health officials billed as a way to streamline all health systems.
Under the new system, a parent of a child under the age of 12 would need to request a proxy to access the child’s records. Parents could only see the record if the proxy is granted, and access would end once the child turns 12.
If the child is between 12 and 15, a parent or legal guardian can request record access with the youth’s consent.
At age 16 and beyond, people can grant a trusted person access and choose their level of access.
While the policy isn’t new in Newfoundland and Labrador — Wakeham noted current policy has been in place for decades — the letter drew swift reaction on social media, with thousands of people weighing in on Facebook.
The majority of the comments condemned the regulations, arguing at 12 years old, parents should have automatic access to their children’s medical records.
“I respect children’s rights and understand the importance of privacy. However, I believe parents have a fundamental responsibility to protect, support, and advocate for their children—and that responsibility doesn’t end when a child turns 12,” wrote Rebecca Furlong.
Others, in the smaller dissenting group, were OK with it.
“For a variety of reasons (culturally, situationally, mental health issues, substance abuse issues, physical abuse concerns) 12-year-olds sometimes need to have an avenue of privacy,” wrote Elizabeth Spurrell.
CBC News had requested interviews with Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services on the policy earlier in the week.
Wakeham said in the statement that although there was “significant confusion and concern,” he’s heard parents loud and clear.
“We have heard clearly from families across the province, and we will ensure the law supports parents and guardians while protecting the best interests of children and youth.”
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