Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) releases Hearing Decision 53 involving Health Regulatory Services

In August 2015 an applicant requested access to the qualifications (degrees and diplomas) of the medical staff of the Health City Cayman Islands hospital.

The records were held by the Department of Health Regulatory Services (HRS), but access was denied under section 23(1).

HRS argued that the records constituted personal information which would not be reasonable to disclose.

The matter was appealed to the (ICO).  After an attempt was made to find an amicable resolution to the dispute, the matter was referred to the Acting Information Commissioner for a formal decision.

In this Hearing the Acting Information Commissioner upheld the decision of HRS to exempt the records, finding that the exemption in section 23(1) was engaged, and that it would not be reasonable to disclose the records. A balancing of the public interest factors for and against disclosure confirmed that the records are to be withheld.

The public is encouraged to read the full text of Decision 53 which can be found on the ICO website at www.infocomm.ky/appeals<http://www.infocomm.ky/appeals>.

For our readers' convenience the full text is published below: