Key facts
- A doctor exposed confidential medical information by taking a phone call during a patient examination.
- The Office of the Data Protection Authority (ODPA) confirmed sensitive health details of another person were overheard.
- The incident created a risk of distress and loss of privacy for the individual concerned.
- The healthcare provider reminded the doctor of data protection obligations and arranged additional staff training.
- Guernsey saw a decrease in high-risk data breaches in the second quarter of 2026, with four reported compared to seven in the previous quarter.
A doctor's confidential medical information was exposed when they took a phone call while examining a patient, Guernsey's Office of the Data Protection Authority (ODPA) has revealed. The watchdog stated that "identifying details and sensitive health information" about another person were overheard during the call, creating a "risk of distress and loss of privacy" for the individual.