Fresh blow for Charlie Stevens’ family
Written by admin on July 5, 2024
SA Health has suspended 10 staff members and multiple others remain under investigation over allegations they inappropriately accessed the medical records of the Police Commissioner’s son, who died in a tragic Schoolies incident.
Charlie Stevens, 18, was struck in a hit-run crash at Goolwa Beach in November last year.
He was taken to Flinders Medical Centre but later died.
SA Health’s deputy chief executive, Judith Formston said as a result of an audit, 18 staff are currently under investigation for the potential inappropriate access of a SAHLN (Southern Adelaide Local Health Network) patient’s record.
“Any staff member who has accessed information inappropriately will be subject to disciplinary processes, which may include termination of their employment,” she said in a statement to the ABC.
Ms Formston offered her “sincerest apologies to the family for the “distressed caused”.
“Protecting patients and their private clinical information is a matter we take extremely seriously.” she said.
“We have robust policies and processes in place to ensure that staff are accessing appropriate information and conduct audits to ensure our policies are complied with.”
SA Health did not confirm the subject of the allegations were those of Charlie Stevens.
An SA Police spokesman said SA Health had “kept the Stevens family apprised of its investigation”.
Health Minister Chris Picton said anyone who is found to have accessed medical records inappropriately must be “shown the door”.
“Any such behaviour is absolutely abhorrent and is being dealt with, with the highest level of seriousness,” he said.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said he “couldn’t believe it” when he first heard about the breach.
“Just because you work in the health system doesn’t give you a right to go looking into other people’s business,” he said.
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The family has been made aware of the breach.
Under a policy introduced in 2015, any SA Health staff member found to have inappropriately accessed a patient’s medical records can face termination.
The policy was implemented after 13 staff were caught looking through the medical records of Cy Walsh following the stabbing death of his father, Crows coach Phil Walsh.
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