More health personnel abusing access to medical database to access confidential info

Health minister looking at more stringent punishments

Increasing numbers of employees in the health sector are being reported to the police for spying on people via the medical database.

Last year, 21 health personnel were fined for looking up people in the database who were not their patients – a figure that has increased dramatically in recent years. In comparison, between 2011 and 2014, just seven were reported.

“Medical records are deeply confidential and doctors who unjustifiably look up patients in the system can be punished with fines and up to four months in prison,” the health minister, Sophie Løhde, told Metroxpress newspaper.

“And in extreme situations they can also be fired and stripped of their authorisation. The punishment is relatively tough, but I am open to discussing a further toughening up of the law.”

READ MORE: More and more doctors closing practices well before retirement age

Fines all round
The 21 health workers who were reported to the police last year all received fines between 4,000 and 15,000 kroner.

There were a total of 71 cases last year, of which 21 ended up as police cases.

TOP STORIES

  • Denmark to explore screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic sentiments

    Denmark to explore screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic sentiments

    A few weeks after Alex Vanopslagh’s comments about “right values,” the government announced that an expert committee would be established to examine the feasibility of screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic attitudes.

  • The Future Copenhagen

    The Future Copenhagen

    The municipality plan encompasses building 40,000 houses by 2036 in order to help drive real estate prices down. But this is not the only huge project that will change the shape of the city: Lynetteholmen, M5 metro line, the Eastern Ring Road, and Jernbanebyen will transform Copenhagen into something different from what we know today

  • It’s not you: winter depression is affecting many people

    It’s not you: winter depression is affecting many people

    Many people in Denmark are facing hard times marked by sadness, anxiety, and apathy. It’s called winter depression, and it’s a widespread phenomenon during the cold months in Nordic countries.

  • Crime rates are rising, but people are safer

    Crime rates are rising, but people are safer

    Crime in Denmark is increasing for the second consecutive year, but it is more focused on property, while people appear to be safer than before. Over the past year, there were fewer incidents of violence

  • Taylor Swift and Martin Brygmann lead Google’s 2024 searches in Denmark

    Taylor Swift and Martin Brygmann lead Google’s 2024 searches in Denmark

    Google published the list of the top searched topics in Denmark during 2024. Taylor Swift is still on top, but domestic and foreign politics drew a lot of attention

  • Novo Nordisk invests 8.5 billion DKK in new Odense facility

    Novo Nordisk invests 8.5 billion DKK in new Odense facility

    Despite Novo’s announcement that its growth abroad will be larger than in Denmark, the company announced this morning an 8.5 billion DKK investment for a new facility in Odense. This is the first time the company has established a new production site in Denmark this century.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs