Eastern Health clerk caught snooping in patient files

Eastern Health has apologized to 25 patients whose private files were snooped into by a clerical worker.

The health authorityannounced the privacy breach in a press release Thursday, and saidthe employee no longer works with Eastern Health.

Officials said the snooping occurred over several months, and was discovered in late February during a routine audit of the former employee's department.

"Eastern Health has a zero tolerance for any deliberate breach of patient privacy," said Eastern Health CEO David Diamond in a release.

"It is very disturbing when these breaches occur, given Eastern Health's clearly stated and reinforced position on willful breaches."

As a result of the investigation, the employee, who provided clerical support at a St. John's facility, "is no longer employed with Eastern Health," said the statement Thursday.

Young cancer patient among the 25

One of the patients affected is 6-year old Nevaeh Denine,a cancer patient who's well known for her fundraising efforts using a lemonade stand.

A Facebook friend of Neveah's mother,Holly Denine, postedThursday thatNevaeh's medical records and scans were accessed.

"I hope violating my daughter's privacy was worth losing a job," she wrote.

Patients being contacted

All patients who have had their privacy compromised have been identified, and Eastern Health officials said they have begun to contact those affected to let them know of the breach.

Eastern Health said it has a number of policies to prevent incidents like this.

Employees take an oath of confidentiality when they are hired, and the health authority holds an annual privacy awareness week.

"On behalf of Eastern Health, I want to publicly apologize to the patients whose privacy has been breached," said Debbie Molloy, Vice President responsible for privacy.