Personal Health Information: Access and Disclosure
As a potential donor, does my personal information stay confidential?
- Yes. All personal information included in the Organ and Tissue Donation Consent Form is confidential and is protected by the Human and Tissue Donation Act, the Health Information Act, and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
- The GNWT will disclose this information to Alberta’s Department of Health so that NWT residents can join the Alberta Organ and Tissue Donation Registry, and this disclosure will be in accordance with the NWT’s Health Information Act.
- Once in the custody of the Alberta’s Department of Health, personal information will continue to remain confidential. Alberta, similar to the NWT, has legislation that protects information, including their own Health Information Act.
- Given this information is confidential, you are strongly encouraged to discuss your wishes to donate your organs / tissues with your family. You are the only one who can inform them of your wishes to donate.
Can I access and / or correct my information?
- Yes. You have a right to access or correct your information, and these requests can be made in accordance with existing processes already established under the NWT’s Health Information Act.
- Depending on the information you are wishing to access or correct, you many need to apply directly to the Alberta’s Department of Health. The NWT’s Chief Health Privacy Officer can help you determine if this is the case and, if so, who to contact.
- Correcting your information is a different process than changing your organ / tissue donation preferences or removing your consent from the Alberta Organ and Tissue Donation Registry. If you want to change your donation preferences, you can resubmit an Organ and Tissue Donation Consent Form.
- For more information on accessing your information, including contact information for the NWT’s Chief Health Privacy Officer, please see: Accessing or Correcting Personal Health Information