You have probably heard about the new My Health Record scheme in the past few weeks.

What's all the fuss about?

In August 2017, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Health Council approved Australia’s National Digital Health strategy (2018-2022).

The Strategy – Safe, seamless, and secure: evolving health and care to meet the needs of modern Australia – identifies seven key priorities that form the basis of Australia’s vision for digital health.

Providing a My Health Record to every Australian who wants one is the first of seven priorities.

My Health Record is an online summary of your key health information.

When you have a My Health Record, your health information can be viewed securely online, from anywhere, at any time – even if you move or travel interstate. You can access your health information from any computer or device that’s connected to the internet.

It’s up and running and Australians have until 31st January, 2019 to decide whether they want to opt out of the online medical records service.

Women's Support Groups Raise Concerns

Women's support groups have raised concerns about the service, saying domestic violence perpetrators could potentially access their victims' confidential health records.

This was disputed by the federal government.

Angela Lynch, chief executive of Women’s Legal Service doubted the situation of women experiencing domestic violence had been considered by the developers of the online service.

“There can be some quite catastrophic consequences if these concerns are not taken into account by policymakers,” Ms Lynch said.

Service linked to MyGov online 

Ms Lynch warned the service would be linked to the MyGov online service, and because of this “it means that if an abusive partner has a victim's login they can already get a range of details through website,”

“The victim’s address, her Centrelink details and that sort of thing,” she said.

Ms Lynch said anti-domestic violence groups were encouraging women to change their MyGov login details as soon as they left an abusive relationship.

“But of course, a lot of women are not aware of that,” she said.

“If this service is all linked together, his ability to access a range of personal information is much greater.”

Ms Lynch said, “we know that some of the greatest disclosures around domestic violence are actually made to GPs. Women trust their GPs to disclose this information,” she said.

Ms Lynch who is a lawyer understood it is useful for legal action if there are records of domestic violence made to GPs.

“But the woman, even though she has disclosed it to her GP, may not want it disclosed wider than that to other health professionals.”

Additional issues

Other women’s agencies have also raised the following concerns:

• “If a woman is experiencing reproductive control or coercion it might impact on her ability to confidentially access contraception or terminations,” said Belinda Cox, of Brisbane Domestic Violence Service.

• "It is vitally important that any information that can identify the whereabouts of victims of family or domestic violence, does not get into the wrong hands," said Queensland's Minister for Women and Child Safety Di Farmer.

• Controlling men are very cunning and will go to great lengths to get information that may be used against their victims in family court hearings. “They have friends in other areas who have freedoms to look things up,” said Belinda Cox.

• The government maintains a woman could place a "record access" code and a "limited document access code" on specific documents and ask their GP not to upload documents however, protective codes for health information placed by the individuals can be relatively easily sidestepped.

Action required from the federal government

Queensland's Minister for Women and Child Safety Di Farmer said she was concerned to hear of potential problems for women suffering domestic violence.

"It is vitally important that no sensitive health information, or any information that can identify the whereabouts of victims of family or domestic violence, gets into the wrong hands," Ms Farmer said.

"If the potential for inappropriate access to sensitive information has been identified, the federal government must take all necessary action to ensure any weak points in the system are strengthened as a matter of the highest priority."

Follow the link for more information about how to OPT OUT OF MY HEALTH RECORD.

Published by: Divorce Resource

Further Reading?

Why is My Health Record a risk for single parents?

How to spot a narcissist

Future assets of your former spouse - what are you entitled to?

Helping your business survive through death and divorce

Am I due spousal maintenance because I stopped work to have the kids?

Should you get Divorced or do the Property Split first?