Nevola Medical Records and their privacy

[maple]

Hello
I am a foreign national living in Finland for six years with my family including three kids, one of them was born here. I have to appear for a medical examination with entire family in relation to my Canadian immigration application. This will be a private doctor in Aava Kamppi in Helsinki. The examination will include physical examination, oral questions about present and past medical history,blood and urine tests, and chest x-ray.
Now, my question is, will the private doctor examining me and my kids be able to view our online computerized medical records and hospital records?I don't want him to know about the kids history or even about me.In my home country,nobody, not even interpol or FBI can have access to my medical record without my signed and written consent but in Finland, it seems like if a person speaks nicely and in Finnish, authorities will pass on any information.
I want to know what does the Finnish law say about it?Does it protect patients under such circumstances?
I am thinking of travelling to Estonia because I guess they won't know our medical history that is stored in Finnish computers.
A Finnish friend has told me that private doctors and clinics(For example Mahilainen and Terveystalo) do not have access to our medical records. I disagree because with our social security number, they often find a lot of information.
I want to be sure of this information before I go ahead!
Best Regards
Maple

[CH]

Now, my question is, will the private doctor examining me and my kids be able to view our online computerized medical records and hospital records?I don't want him to know about the kids history or even about me.

No, only what they have in their own databases (the treatments etc you have received at the private clinic). They don't have access to the municipal database.

A private doctor often works as a municipal doctor, too, and in that capacity the doctor could check on your information if he or she wanted to, but it's illegal unless they are treating you as a municipal doctor. You can request a transcript of who has accessed your information and when and what was accessed if you suspect that somebody has used your information unauthorized.

but in Finland, it seems like if a person speaks nicely and in Finnish, authorities will pass on any information.

Uh-huh, suuuuure. Got any example of that actually happening, unless it was something that is public records?

The homepage for the Data Protection Ombudsman has lots of information about this: http://www.tietosuoja.fi/en/index.html

(Edit:) Oh... and since you asked about neuvola records. As far as I have understood, doctors can only see records that are in their "area". So neuvola records cannot be seen by a non-neuvola doctor, unless you have given permission for it (they do give you a permission slip to sign for the records to be shared with the daycare or future school doctor, if I remember correctly, but you can revoke that permission). Guidelines for storing and sharing neuvola information: http://www.ebm-guidelines.com/dtk/lno/a ... i=lno00021

[betelgeuse]

I am a foreign national living in Finland for six years with my family including three kids, one of them was born here. I have to appear for a medical examination with entire family in relation to my Canadian immigration application. This will be a private doctor in Aava Kamppi in Helsinki.

I would investigate whether by applying you consent to the private doctor accessing all available information.

[Flossy1978]

There is no one database for healthcare matters. Each healthcare company and municipality are separate and can't access your health matters unless you give permission.

I wonder why you are so afraid? Is there something you don't want the Canadians to know? Lol.

[maple]

There is no one database for healthcare matters. Each healthcare company and municipality are separate and can't access your health matters unless you give permission.

I wonder why you are so afraid? Is there something you don't want the Canadians to know? Lol.

No, of course not. I do not think there is anything to hide. I just wanted the "rules of play" before I go in. In my opinion, Finnish doctors and nurses think they are above the law and if you are a foreigner not speaking Finnish, they take you for a ride. Knowledge of my rights won't hurt I suppose.

[Jukka Aho]

There is no one database for healthcare matters.

But there will be a single national patient record database in the future, and it is already being deployed.

The project is called Kanta, from the Finnish word tietokanta, "database".(If it were customary to "translate" such names and there weren't other, stronger and more obvious meanings for the word in English, you could call it "'Base"... short for "database".)

Brochure:
http://www.kanta.fi/documents/10180/344 ... 0b0612ec1d

Website:
http://www.kanta.fi/en/earkisto-esittely

[AldenG]

The project is called Kanta, from the Finnish word tietokanta, "database".(If it were customary to "translate" such names and there weren't other, stronger and more obvious meanings for the word in English, you could call it "'Base"... short for "database".)

Arabic has a similar word, doesn't it? Something like Qaeda?

[onkko]

There is no one database for healthcare matters. Each healthcare company and municipality are separate and can't access your health matters unless you give permission.

I wonder why you are so afraid? Is there something you don't want the Canadians to know? Lol.

No, of course not. I do not think there is anything to hide. I just wanted the "rules of play" before I go in. In my opinion, Finnish doctors and nurses think they are above the law and if you are a foreigner not speaking Finnish, they take you for a ride. Knowledge of my rights won't hurt I suppose.

You can check who looked your info in last year and if there is illegal checking then its police matter. Its "virkavelvollisuuden rikkominen".

http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/kaannokset ... 890039.pdf

Chapter 40 - Offences in office
Section 5 - Breach and negligent breach of official secrecy (604/2002)
(1) If a public official intentionally, while in service or thereafter, unlawfully
(1) discloses a document or information which pursuant to the Act on the
Openness of Government Activities (621/1999) or another Act is to be
kept secret of not disclosed, or
(2) makes use of the document or information referred to in paragraph (1)
to the benefit of himself or herself or to the loss of another,
he or she shall be sentenced, unless a more severe penalty for the act has been
laid down elsewhere, for breach of official secrecy to a fine or to imprisonment for
at most two years. A public official may also be sentenced to dismissal if the
offence demonstrates that he or she is manifestly unfit for his or her duties.
(2) If a public official commits the offence referred to in subsection 1 through
negligence, and the act, in view of its harmful and damaging effects and the other
relevant circumstances, is not of minor significance, he or she shall be sentenced,
unless a more severe penalty for the act is provided elsewhere in the law, for
negligent breach of official secrecy to a fine or to imprisonment for at most six
months.

Section 7 – Abuse of public office (604/2002)
(1) If a public official, in order to obtain benefit for himself or herself or for
another or in order to cause detriment or loss to another
(1) violates his or her official duty, based on the provisions or regulations to
be followed in official functions, when participating in decision-making
or in the preparation thereof or when using public authority in his or
her other official functions, or
(2) misuses his or her office in respect of a person who is under his or her
command or immediate supervision,
he or she shall be sentenced for abuse of public office to a fine or to imprisonment
for at most two years.
(2) The public official may also be sentenced to dismissal if the offence indicates
that he or she is manifestly unfit for his or her duties.