Following the hasty release of a letter from NL Health Services to parents and guardians on June 19 referencing children’s health information, and the lack of clear information and mixed messaging from Premier Wakeham in the aftermath, NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) wrote to the Premier calling for a transparent path forward – one that prioritizes public understanding, meaningful consultation, and trust.
Dinn says a lack of communication and an abundance of misinformation have left parents and guardians confused about the rules currently in place. He says that instead of providing clarity and helping people understand a complex issue, Premier Wakeham politicized the situation. Both the PCs and Liberals rushed to score political points rather than take the time to understand the nuances and provide families with the information they need.
“The issue of consent and confidentiality is complex, nuanced, and must be handled with care and sensitivity. The CorCare letter sent to parents about access to their child’s healthcare information was devoid of context to help parents understand how electronic health records, MyHealthNL, and the App, are integrated with the current health system. Nor did it help parents understand what rights they and their children have to their confidential personal health details,” Dinn wrote. “The current unfortunate situation caused by miscommunication has placed additional strain on healthcare professionals, who must answer questions and calm fears because government bodies did not provide clear, factual, and transparent information to the public.”
Dinn warns that rushing to change legislation designed to protect children, without proper consultation, could result in unintended consequences that harm the very children these policies are meant to support. He also raised concerns that the Premier did not contact the Child and Youth Advocate following the situation.
“Hearing that your government intends to introduce legislation during the fall sitting of the House of Assembly, despite not yet having consulted the Child and Youth Advocate, underscores the need to stress the importance of ensuring this process is conducted properly,” he wrote.
“As Premier, you are tasked with providing leadership and communicating clearly and responsibly with the people of this province so that online hate, misinformation, and harmful rhetoric do not spread unchecked, potentially placing children at greater risk. We saw this happen after the CorCare letter was posted on social media. We too strongly condemn the hate directed at the Minister of Health.”
“I look forward to hearing you outline the plan openly to the public. I also hope you will ensure that accurate information is communicated directly by your government rather than solely through social media, so that we can properly address concerns and ensure the safety and well-being of everyone involved.”
A copy of the full letter is attached.