Freedom of Information
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) provides a general right of access to records in the hospital’s custody or control as of January 1, 2007. There are certain exclusions and exemptions from the right of access such as the right to the protection of personal information.
The principles of FIPPA are:
Information should be available to the public
Exemptions from the right of access should be limited and specific
Any person may make a request for records held by an institution subject to FIPPA
Decisions on whether to provide access may be appealed to the Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario (external website).
To protect individuals from unauthorized, collection, use or disclosure of personal information and to provide individuals with a right of access to their own personal information
Download the Access/Correction Request form (PDF)
Please note: access to personal health information, such as a patient’s medical chart, is not available under FIPPA. The Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) applies to a patient’s medical information and North York General Hospital (NYGH) protects medical information in accordance with PHIPA. If you wish to make a request for your own patient chart, please use the PHIPA request process.
Directory of Records and Personal Information Banks
The Directory of Records contains a list of the general classes or types of records in the custody or under the control of the North York Genera Hospital. Its purpose is to assist members of the public in exercising their rights of access under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) by listing and describing the hospital’s records holdings.
The Directory does not contain the actual records. It is necessary to make an access request to the hospital’s Freedom of Information and Privacy Office. The following is a description of the information provided in the Directory and each general class of records and personal information banks.
How to Make a FIPPA Request
You may use the hospital’s Access/Correction request form (PDF) for the following purposes:
- To make a request for access to general records of the hospital
- To request personal information about yourself
- To request a correction to your personal information
If you have any questions about the access or correction request process, please contact our Freedom of Information and Privacy Office by phone at (416) 756-6448 or contact by email.
Release of Information
Freedom of Information and Privacy Office
North York General Hospital
4001 Leslie Street
Toronto ON M2K 1E1
Please include a cheque or money order in the amount of $5 payable to North York General Hospital. You may pay by credit card by completing the required information on the second page of the form. Please do not mail cash.
Privacy Protection
FIPPA sets out rules for protecting the privacy of personal information held by the hospital. Personal information may only be collected where there is authority to do so and steps must be taken to ensure it is accurate. Once collected, personal information must be protected from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.
NYGH may only use your personal information for the purpose for which it was collected, a consistent purpose, or with your consent. Personal information has to be kept for a minimum of one year and it may only be disposed of in a secure manner.
Your personal information may be disclosed to others with your consent, or without your consent in the following circumstances:
- To respond to an appeal to the Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario
- For the purpose for which the hospital collected the information or for a consistent purpose
- To hospital staff who need the information to perform their duties
- To comply with the law
- To cooperate with a law enforcement agency in Canada conducting an investigation
- To inform another in compelling circumstances affecting an individual’s health or safety
- To make contact with next of kin or friend of an ill, injured or deceased person
- To audit a program that is cost shared with the federal or provincial government
If you have any questions about the hospital’s collection, use and disclosure practices, please contact NYGH’s Freedom of Information and Privacy Office by phone at: 416-756-6448 or by contact by email.