WINNIPEG - Manitoba health-care workers could soon face fines if they get caught snooping into patient records without being authorized.
The NDP government has introduced a bill that would forbid anyone from looking at personal health records unless required for work.
The current Personal Health Information Act say people are only penalized if they divulge any information.
The provincial ombudsman urged the government earlier this year to strengthen the law to ban unauthorized access.
His suggestion came after a Winnipeg health-care worker pulled the health records of a neighbour.
Health Minister Theresa Oswald says there will also be penalties for falsifying records.
