Dear Sir,

More than a decade after it was initially proposed, I am glad to see that the Bermuda Government is moving ahead with the Personal Information Protection Act.

Privacy laws are very important in this internet age, where software can easily link fragments of personal data gathered from different sources, and those profiles can be stored indefinitely.

But it is important to note that this law will also apply to paper records as well. Last evening, I was stuck in traffic behind a construction truck that was heaped high with thousands of medical folders, presumably destined for the trash.

The folders were all labelled “Bermuda Hospitals Board — Diagnostic Imaging Department — 2008” and clearly contained individual medical records.

That is not a responsible handling of sensitive personal information. Surely, the Government has document handling and destruction policies?

Sincerely,

LAX PRACTICE