Professional Responsibility State Practice Exam

Which legislation governs the use of personal health information?

1. The Official Information Act

2. The Privacy Act

3. The Health and Information Privacy Code

4. The Cancer Registrar Act

The correct answer is: The Health and Information Privacy Code

The Health Information Privacy Code specifically governs the use of personal health information. This legislation provides a framework that sets out how personal health information should be collected, used, disclosed, and stored to protect individuals' privacy rights. It establishes principles that healthcare providers and organizations must follow to ensure that personal health information is managed in a way that respects patient confidentiality and complies with legal standards. The Privacy Act, while it does cover a broad range of personal information, includes general privacy principles applicable to all types of personal data, not just health information specifically. This means it does not address the particular nuances and requirements that come with handling sensitive health data. The Official Information Act typically pertains to the disclosure of official information held by government agencies and does not specifically address personal health information. The Cancer Registrar Act focuses on the collection and management of cancer-related data and is not a comprehensive framework for all personal health information. Therefore, the Health Information Privacy Code is the appropriate legislation that directly addresses the specifics of handling personal health information.