Principal Julie Somerville writes: Last week (on 18 April) the first “online hospital” was announced in Australia. Known as AHI TeleHealth, and run by Docto, the “hospital” enables Accident and Health International’s policy holders to access emergency doctors and allied health professionals by video, email, phone or sms, at any time of the day. While it’s […]
Insights Categories: Privacy

INSIGHT: Foresights: Internet of things and social media – Parts 1 & 2
Julie Somerville, Principal at Meridian Lawyers, comments on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) renewed enforcement priorities and the implications for professionals with an online presence, including health service providers. While social media and the internet of things offer new ways to interact with clients, they also carry new risks, such as statutory breaches and […]

INSIGHT: Credit reporting regime under the Privacy Act has a new bite
As of 12 March 2014, significant changes to the credit reporting regime under the Privacy Act 1998 (Cth) will impact on how dentists handle patients’ credit related information [1]. Are dentists credit providers? Do you provide credit in full or in part for at least seven days? Do you offer structured payment plans for your […]

INSIGHT: Privacy, legal liability and the pharmacist
What were the legal implications of allowing a third party access to a pharmacy’s computer to identify patients who may benefit from the Home Medicines Review (HMR) program? Meridian Lawyers Managing Principal, Paul Baker, says that under no circumstances should a third party be allowed access to a pharmacy computer or for that matter any […]