$175 • Approx. 700 pages
Navigate Alberta’s Health Information Act (HIA) with confidence in the digital-health era.
Written for lawyers, policymakers, health professionals, regulators, healthcare administrators, privacy professionals, and anyone seeking insight into how the HIA is interpreted and applied – this first edition publication distils more than two decades of legislative evolution and jurisprudence into authoritative commentary. This comprehensive, accessible guide features concise case law summaries, expert insights, practice tips, and a curated suite of resource materials – empowering readers to confidently navigate and comply with this important legislation.
This publication provides invaluable guidance as the healthcare sector continues to develop and embrace innovative ways of delivering health services. By combining thorough legal analysis with practical guidance, this landmark publication serves as an indispensable reference for safeguarding Albertans’ health information today while supporting informed dialogue as healthcare systems, digital health technologies – and the HIA itself – continue to evolve.
Table of Contents
Preface
Foreword
Glossary of Terms
List of Abbreviations
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: History of the Alberta Health Information Act
ANNOTATED ALBERTA HEALTH INFORMATION ACT (HIA)
Chapter 3: Part 1 of the HIA – Introductory Matters
Chapter 4: Part 2 of the HIA – Individual’s Right to Access Health Information
Chapter 5: Part 3 of the HIA – Collection of Health Information
Chapter 6: Part 4 of the HIA – Use of Health Information
Chapter 7: Part 5 of the HIA – Disclosure of Health Information
Chapter 8: Part 5.1 of the HIA – Alberta Electronic Health Record (EHR)
Chapter 9: Part 6 of the HIA – Duties and Powers of Custodians Relating to Health Information
Chapter 10: Part 6.1 of the HIA – Health Information Repository
Chapter 11: Part 7 of the HIA – Commissioner
Chapter 12: Part 8 of the HIA – General Provisions
Chapter 13: Part 9 of the HIA – Consequential Amendments, Paramountcy and Coming into Force
Chapter 14: Regulations Under the Alberta Health Information Act
Chapter 15: Resource Materials
About the Authors
Tory Hibbitt is Associate Counsel at Miller Thomson LLP, based in Calgary, Alberta, who specializes in health and privacy law. A member of the Alberta and Saskatchewan Bars, Tory advises public and private sector health industry clients on compliance and risk management, guiding them through intricate regulatory frameworks, especially in matters of health information privacy and data-security breaches. Her multi-jurisdictional advocacy practice spans medical defence litigation, professional regulatory proceedings, and other disputes.
Tory is a Certified Information Privacy Professional and holds a Master of Laws in Medical Law and Ethics. She stays current with the evolving privacy landscape, and is particularly interested in issues where privacy and healthcare intersect. She is an instructor on the Osgoode Certificate in Privacy Law and Information Management in Health Care program, and a former Chair of both the Canadian Bar Association’s National Health Law Section and the Alberta (South) Young Lawyers Section. A thought leader and proponent of continuing education, she is dedicated to advancing the field of health privacy by making complex legal topics accessible across health industry actors and stakeholders.
Amanda Cramm is a health lawyer based in Calgary, Alberta, representing the provincial health authorities. She is known for providing timely, pragmatic, and solutions-oriented legal advice that is responsive to the time-sensitive and operational realities of the health care environment, supporting professionals and administrators across a wide range of complex issues. She provides legal advice and informs policy development in areas such as medical assistance in dying (MAID), quality and patient safety, mental health (including forensic mental health), and consent and capacity. Privacy law is a central feature across all areas of her practice. Amanda is the Co-Program Director of The Osgoode Certificate in Privacy Law and Information Management in Health Care and is a regular guest lecturer at universities across Canada, sharing her expertise with students and professionals in law, health, and public policy.
Amanda previously practiced in the private sector with a focus on privacy, insurance, and medical malpractice litigation. She holds a Master of Laws, in which her thesis explores the legal interpretation of the Criminal Code provision that a request for MAID be voluntary and not the result of external pressure. Her thesis proposes a legal framework for assessing compliance with this statutory requirement. Before entering the legal profession, Amanda earned a Master of Social Work and worked as a front-line social worker in health care—experience that provides her with a unique lens in understanding the needs and challenges of her clients in the health sector.