Privacy Policy

Veritas Medicolegal is bound by the Privacy Act (1988) and Australian Privacy Principles (2014) (APP). We are required to operate within the guidelines set down in the Privacy Policy, and these guidelines are reflected in both of our Patient Information and Consent Forms.

Veritas Medicolegal will not disclose ANY information about a patient to any third party unless the patient has given written permission. This includes if an appointment was made, attended, and contact details.

We will also not disclose patient treatment, patient health records.

Third parties may include spouses, employers, parents, lawyers, insurance companies and the police.

We require a Consent Form to be filled and signed. This includes every new patient attending the clinic, and any past or regular patient who attends the clinic but has not signed one of these forms.

Veritas Medicolegal recognises that due to the nature of our business we deal with individuals’ personal information. Bound by the APP and the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act (2000).

Veritas Medicolegal is committed to protecting the privacy of individuals and the personal information gathered in order to ethically conduct the business of healthcare. This commitment encompasses staff, contractors, clients, and patients across all areas of our operation and services.

The organisation will ensure that all personal information provided is managed in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles. This means:

WE ONLY COLLECT THE NECESSARY INFORMATION THAT IS RELEVANT TO THE DELIVERY OF THE REQUIRED HEALTH SERVICES.

TO ACHIEVE THIS, WE WILL UNDERTAKE THE FOLLOWING MEASURES:

• Obtaining consent (unless an exemption applies);
• Using fair, lawful and non-intrusive ways;
• Directly from an individual where reasonable and practicable;
• Take reasonable steps to make an individual aware of why the information is being collected and who else might obtain it (e.g. employer or insurer).

USE OF THE PERSONAL INFORMATION ARE FOR THE PURPOSE OF:

• For the primary purpose of collection (i.e. delivering quality health care);

• For a secondary purpose that is directly related (e.g. referrals to other treating Practitioners or for billing purposes) where the individual would reasonably expect such use or disclosure;
• For health care follow-up;
• To a third party if consent has been provided;
• In specified law enforcement or public health and public safety circumstances;

RESTRICTION OF ACCESS MAY APPLY IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCE. THIS INCLUDES:

• Access would harm or put a person at risk;
• There are legal implications in providing the information;
• Information is commercially sensitive or valued information.

Further information about the application of the Privacy Act can be found at the website of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at www.privacy.gov.au.