Adelaide hospital staff are under investigation after allegedly accessing the medical records of Police Commissioner Grant Stevens’ son, who died after being hit by a car.
Charlie Stevens, 18, died in hospital from an irreversible brain injury after he was struck by a car at Goolwa in November.
SA Health became aware of a breach in his records a few months ago after an audit of the computer systems set off alarm bells.
The health authority is now investigating 18 staff members who may have inappropriately accessed his records and has already suspended 10 of them pending an outcome.
“Our sincere apologies are to the family and we apologise for the distress it’s caused,” SA Health deputy chief Judith Formston said.
According to police, SA Health has kept the Stevens family aware of the investigation.
The family has refused to comment on the matter.
News of the investigation has sparked widespread criticism.
“I couldn’t believe it when I heard about this,” Premier Peter Malinauskas.
“Just because you work in the health system doesn’t give you a right to go looking into other people’s business.”
“Any such behaviour is absolutely abhorrent and is being dealt with at the highest level of seriousness,” Health Minister Chris Picton said.
Any staff member found to have inappropriately accessed the medical records can face termination thanks to a policy introduced by SA Health in 2015.
It was implemented after 13 staff were caught looking through the medical records of Cy Walsh after he was arrested for killing his father and Adelaide Crows coach Phil Walsh.