Medical watchdog Ahpra under fire after accidentally releasing details of a complaint against a SA doctor

An interstate man was shocked when he received an email from Ahpra marked “private and confidential” — which detailed an unrelated complaint and named a South Australian doctor.

The medical watchdog is itself under fire after accidentally releasing details of a complaint against a South Australian doctor to a member of the public.

The “administrative error” occurred when a man who lives interstate complained about his own doctor and was not satisfied with the response from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).

In pursuing the matter, he was shocked to receive an email from Ahpra — marked “private and confidential” — which detailed an unrelated complaint which named a South Australian doctor.

An interstate man has received an email from Ahpra — marked “private and confidential” — which detailed an unrelated complaint which named a South Australian doctor.

This included the complaint’s progress in the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. It is understood the doctor named is now overseas.

“I was shocked because they make a big deal about privacy and not breaching patients’ confidentiality, then they go and completely breach the privacy of this doctor,” the man, who wished to remain anonymous, said.

“It is a double standard and can’t just be dismissed as a clerical error. They should be held to a higher standard of accountability when it comes to the privacy of people who are being investigated for a complaint.”

After alerting Ahpra to the error on Thursday, the man quickly received another email explaining it was an administrative error, apologising for the mistake and asking him to delete the first email.

The Advertiser has sighted the emails and confirmed the error did occur.

Ahpra works to ensure Australia’s registered health practitioners are suitably trained, qualified and safe to practise.

“Public safety is our priority,” their website states.

An Ahpra statement to The Advertiser says the agency takes its obligations to safety very seriously.

“We have detailed procedures in place to prevent and monitor for unintentional disclosures of information. They do occur from time to time, usually as a result of human error,” it says. “If a privacy breach has occurred, we act quickly and appropriately to contain and respond to it. We seek to substantially decrease the impact of any breach on individuals affected.

“This includes contacting third parties who may be impacted by a privacy breach.

“We advise the National Health Practitioner Ombudsman and privacy commissioner’s office in circumstances where there has been an eligible breach.

“All Ahpra staff receive mandatory training in privacy obligations under the Privacy Act and the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law.

“Ahpra manages around 11,000 notifications each year that involve multiple pieces of correspondence with practitioners and notifiers.

“These processes are currently being followed in this case.”

Originally published as Medical watchdog Ahpra under fire after accidentally releasing details of a complaint against a SA doctor