Pittwater Life August 2018 Issue

controls. You are also able to
access it online yourself.
However, concern has and is
being expressed about privacy
and the protection of data.
Security expert Paul Power
has stated “… a centralised
e-Health database accessible
over the internet to more than
100,000 legitimate access
points, each of which has
access to the entire database,
is fundamentally indefensible.”
Insurance companies will not
have access to the data base
and the data can’t be used for
commercial and non-healthrelated
purposes, including
direct marketing to consumers,
insurance assessments, and
eligibility for welfare benefits.
Dr Steve Hambleton from
ADHA has said that strict
safeguards are in place: “I
can absolutely categorically
state that none of the apps
and none of the use of the My
Health Record data will be able
to be sold to third parties –
that’s absolutely prohibited,”
he said.
It certainly is – and
penalties include two years’
imprisonment.
However, in June this year
Australia’s largest online doctor
booking service, Healthengine
– one of My Health Record’s
partner apps – was revealed
as selling and passing on
patient information to third
parties, including law firms.
The Minister Greg Hunt has
ordered an “urgent review” of
the platform and the company
has announced that it would
stop sharing patient data.
It is assumed by the creators
of the seismic shift to the
digital evolution of health
and care in Australia that all
citizens are computer literate
and will be able to negotiate
the system to ‘opt out’ or if
they wish to remain, ‘opt in’,
and that they will choose if
they want their data shared
for research and healthcare
improvement by switching ‘on’
or ‘off’ a ‘Withdraw Consent’
button in their record. The
system is not simple – rather
like that other system MyGov:
almost impossible to navigate.
Similarly, the numerous
Privacy fact sheets published
by the Office of the Australian
Information Commissioner
suggest among other matters
you should “… be aware of
the different access settings
available to you… consider
setting advanced access
controls [and a]… Record
Access Code… talk to your
healthcare providers regularly
about what information they
will be adding to and accessing
from your my Health Record…
ask how they will involve you
in this process… check your
my Health Record access
history regularly… [and] set up
notifications.”
It’s difficult to think that
many people will have time
enough to engage in this
bureaucratic nightmare
of monitoring their health
records, and who else might
have access to them.
Comment supplied by
Jennifer Harris, of Jennifer
Harris & Associates, Solicitors,
4/57 Avalon Parade,
Avalon Beach.
T: 9973 2011. F: 9918 3290.
E: jennifer@jenniferharris.com.au
W: www.jenniferharris.com.au
Merger of two
local legal firms
S
tuart Latham Solicitors of Avalon and Matthew
Huntingdon Solicitor & Notary Public of Newport have
merged their legal practices.
With effect from 1 July, Stuart and Matthew have
combined their knowledge and experience with the aim of
achieving high-quality, affordable outcomes for their clients.
“The merger allows both firms to expand, with offices in
Avalon Beach and Newport,” said Stuart.
Stuart’s office will remain at Suite 5, 49 Old Barrenjoey
Road, Avalon Beach; Matthew’s office will remain at Suite 8,
355 Barrenjoey Road, Newport.
“The combined firm will have four practising solicitors,
two paralegals/office managers (who both have law
degrees), plus a law clerk (who is currently completing her
law degree),” said Stuart.
“Our combined practice areas will include Property law,
including conveyancing, leasing and developments; Business
law, servicing small to medium enterprises and covering all
forms of commercial agreements; Estate planning including
Wills, Power of Attorney, Guardianship Appointments &
Testamentary Trusts; Estate Administration including Probate
and Letters of Administration applications; Retirement village
contracts; Notarial services; and Dispute resolution.”
Clients may continue to contact them on their usual
phone numbers and email addresses, and Matthew can now
also be contacted at matthew@stuartlatham.com.au
Business Life
The Local Voice Since 1991
AUGUST 2018 55