DEALING WITH MEDICAL INFORMATION: BALANCING PRIVACY AND THE NEED TO KNOW
Post-Conference Workshop

Presented by: Lancaster House,
University of Calgary
&
Industrial Relations Research Group

Saturday, June 14, 2008
Full-Day Interactive Session
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

The Westin Calgary
320 Fourth Avenue SW, Calgary, AB, T2P 2S6

In recent years courts, tribunals, and arbitrators have grappled with a growing number of cases involving access to and disclosure of medical information, and the limits imposed by privacy and human rights laws. This interactive workshop will give you the tools you need to deal with the day-to-day problems that arise in a complex and fast-changing environment as you explore the issues and discuss the best practices for managing medical information in your workplace. Questions to be addressed include:

• In what circumstances can employees be required to provide medical information/reports/certificates to employers?
• How much medical information can employees be required to provide to their employer? To the union? To the workers' compensation board?
• In what circumstances can employers seek the release of employee medical information from, or speak directly to, third parties (doctors, hospitals, occupational health and safety nurses, benefit providers, workers' compensation boards)?
• Can an employer discipline or suspend a worker for refusing to provide appropriate information?
• Who is entitled to see an employee's medical information?
• What medical information relating to an employee is the employer entitled to access during the grievance/arbitration process?
• How does recent federal and provincial privacy legislation affect the collection, use and disclosure of employees’ personal medical information?