Site Changes

On 1 November 2010 the Office of the Privacy Commissioner was integrated into the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). An interim website for the OAIC is available at www.oaic.gov.au. This site (privacy.gov.au), which only contains information related to the OAIC's privacy function, will be maintained until a combined site is established.

Information about the new Office of the Australian Information Commissioner: www.oaic.gov.au

Should a health service provider retain health information about an individual who has died?

The Privacy Act 1988 does not create privacy obligations in relation to the handling of health information of deceased individuals.

Whether a health service provider should destroy or retain that health information may depend on a number of other factors including the existence of State or Territory laws requiring the retention of the information for a definite period after the individual has died. Also institutional and professional bodies may have codes of conduct or practice relating to the handling of a deceased individualï¿½s health information.