❓ Hon. Maryka Groenewald questions the Minister for Health's refusal to release de-identified data on babies born alive during abortion procedures, arguing that numerical data shouldn't breach patient confidentiality. The Minister defends the decision, citing potential identifiability due to small numbers and specific clinical details.
AnsweredQoN 1246Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Abortion—Live births
1246. Hon Maryka Groenewald to the parliamentary
secretary representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the
answer to question on notice 690, which declined to provide an annual breakdown
of the 39 Western Australian babies born alive during abortion procedures and
the duration for which they survived, citing patient confidentiality.
Can the minister
clarify how releasing de-identified numerical data would breach patient
confidentiality?
1246. Hon Maryka Groenewald to the parliamentary
secretary representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the
answer to question on notice 690, which declined to provide an annual breakdown
of the 39 Western Australian babies born alive during abortion procedures and
the duration for which they survived, citing patient confidentiality.
Can the minister
clarify how releasing de-identified numerical data would breach patient
confidentiality?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question. The following answer has
been provided by the Minister for Health.
Providing
de-identified numerical data for a small number of patients may allow
individuals to be inferred. This is particularly the case when data is combined
with highly specific clinical details such as duration of survival, which may
make the patient identifiable to others or recognisable to the woman herself.
honourable member for some notice of the question. The following answer has
been provided by the Minister for Health.
Providing
de-identified numerical data for a small number of patients may allow
individuals to be inferred. This is particularly the case when data is combined
with highly specific clinical details such as duration of survival, which may
make the patient identifiable to others or recognisable to the woman herself.
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