 Ontario’s Stand up to Diabetes program and privacy concerns Recently media attention was aimed at the introduction of what may be the first of many chronic disease management programs by Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC), Stand up to Diabetes. The CMPA, along with other advisory and consultative organizations including the Ontario Privacy Commissioner, received enquires questioning the Ministry’s authority to establish and validate a diabetic registry. The basis of these enquiries were concerns that participation could contribute to or actually breach patient privacy. The CMPA shared these concerns and consequently met with the Ontario Privacy Commissioner in June. The Commissioner affirmed that the diabetic registry population methodology is, in fact, consistent with the Personal Health Information Protection Act and should therefore not be seen as a barrier to participation. Participation in the Stand up to Diabetes program is voluntary for both patients and physicians, and therefore the decision to participate should be based on clinical circumstances, not legal considerations.
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