Charges were filed against an employee of a private clinic who allegedly attempted to use his position to access the confidential medical file of a former hostage, the Justice Ministry has announced.
The suspect seemingly attempted to gain access to the private file of a former hostage despite not needing such information to perform his duties.
After an investigation into the incident was launched following a report received by the Justice Ministry’s Privacy Protection Authority, the State Attorney’s Office’s Cyber Unit has now taken over the case.
Investigators have said that the card used to attempt access to the private file was issued to an administrative employee at the private clinic. This clinic provides services for Israel’s health fund system.
According to the Justice Ministry, the suspect’s motivation to access the confidential medical file was curiosity. Security protocols at the health clinic prevented the employee from accessing the information, it said.
The suspect was interviewed under caution by the Privacy Protection Authority regarding suspected violations of the 1981 Privacy Protection Law.
This law encompasses unauthorized use of information, disclosure of information acquired in the course of one’s duties, and processing of personal data from a database without authorization from the data controller.
“The medical files of health fund members contain sensitive personal information that requires strict adherence to privacy, especially when it concerns former hostages who have returned to Israel,” Adi Menahem Be’er, who heads the Privacy Protection Authority’s enforcement department, said.
“The authority will continue to act resolutely to protect the privacy of former hostages and others, and in appropriate cases, we will conduct criminal investigations to ensure that offenders are prosecuted.”
Palestinian medical worker allegedly attempts to gain access to hostage medical records
In March, Jerusalem District Police officers arrested a Palestinian man for breaking into and accessing the medical file of a released female hostage.
The suspect, a 40-year-old resident of Ramallah, is an employee of a medical facility in east Jerusalem. According to the police, he accessed the hostage’s medical records out of curiosity.