Office of the Privacy Commissioner

Home DNA tests and privacy Feilidh Dwyer
6 August 2019 at 09:53

Reviewed for relevance April 2025.

health, data, DNA, 23andme, Ancestry.com

What’s in your DNA? What genetic testing might tell us about our health Vee Blackwood
24 May 2019 at 09:18

We’ve all seen the ads for genetic ancestry testing - as a way for people to trace their genealogy beyond traditional family trees and historical detail. And thanks to shows like CSI, the public might think of DNA as an investigative tool for the Police; a silver bullet that can solve any high-profile case in just minutes. But DNA can be used for much more than law enforcement activities or tracing ancestry.

Health Information Privacy Code, health

Privacy beyond the grave Richard Stephen
24 July 2018 at 08:51

Generally the Privacy Act doesn’t apply to deceased people. This is because the Privacy Act protects the rights of “individuals”, and section 2 of the Act defines an individual as a “natural person, other than a deceased person”.

complaints, health, Health Information Privacy Code

Breach Case 7: Rubbishing privacy Neil Sanson
5 April 2018 at 16:54

A recent data breach incident provided an example of how your responsibility to protect personal information does not end when you put the rubbish out for collection.

health, data, breach

Handling health information of intersex individuals Vanessa Blackwood
2 March 2018 at 10:18

This blog post was reviewed and updated in March 2025.

Health Information Privacy Code, health

Advice for doctors when there’s a complaint Charles Mabbett
13 February 2018 at 12:14

If you work in a small practice or medical centre, there’s every chance you may not have received many requests for personal information from patients. The starting point is to know that the Privacy Act gives people the right to make a request for information that is about them.

health, Health Information Privacy Code, complaints

Can I tell the cops? A guide for health professionals Richard Stephen
7 July 2017 at 11:32

In their job, health professionals have to look after some of the most intimate details of their patients’ lives. This is a great responsibility, and patients trust and expect doctors, nurses and others to not just tell anyone. This obligation is recognised in the Health Information Privacy Code.

Health Information Privacy Code, health, IPP11 - disclosure, law enforcement

Woman says Police unfairly disclosed information to her employer Charles Mabbett
2 November 2016 at 14:51

As a result of a complaint, Police began an investigation into a woman who worked at a district health board. The complaint alleged that she may have accessed DHB health records in order to locate children who had been the victims of crimes committed by her brother.

Human Rights Review Tribunal, health, law enforcement

Viewing entries tagged with 'health'

Home DNA tests and privacy Feilidh Dwyer 6 August 2019 at 09:53

What’s in your DNA? What genetic testing might tell us about our health Vee Blackwood 24 May 2019 at 09:18

Privacy beyond the grave Richard Stephen 24 July 2018 at 08:51

Breach Case 7: Rubbishing privacy Neil Sanson 5 April 2018 at 16:54

Handling health information of intersex individuals Vanessa Blackwood 2 March 2018 at 10:18

Advice for doctors when there’s a complaint Charles Mabbett 13 February 2018 at 12:14

Can I tell the cops? A guide for health professionals Richard Stephen 7 July 2017 at 11:32

Woman says Police unfairly disclosed information to her employer Charles Mabbett 2 November 2016 at 14:51

Home DNA tests and privacy Feilidh Dwyer
6 August 2019 at 09:53

What’s in your DNA? What genetic testing might tell us about our health Vee Blackwood
24 May 2019 at 09:18

Privacy beyond the grave Richard Stephen
24 July 2018 at 08:51

Breach Case 7: Rubbishing privacy Neil Sanson
5 April 2018 at 16:54

Handling health information of intersex individuals Vanessa Blackwood
2 March 2018 at 10:18

Advice for doctors when there’s a complaint Charles Mabbett
13 February 2018 at 12:14

Can I tell the cops? A guide for health professionals Richard Stephen
7 July 2017 at 11:32

Woman says Police unfairly disclosed information to her employer Charles Mabbett
2 November 2016 at 14:51