NHS staff investigated over access to dead teenager’s medical records

• NHS staff in Bristol are under investigation for potentially unauthorised access to deceased patient Oliver McGowan's medical records after his death in 2016, raising concerns about data governance and patient confidentiality protections post-mortem
• The case highlights the need for clinicians to ensure robust controls are in place around access to deceased patients' records and to adhere strictly to information governance policies
• Medical teams should be aware that inappropriate access to patient records—even after death—constitutes a serious breach that can result in formal investigations and disciplinary action

Oliver McGowan, who died in 2016, may have had his medical records accessed inappropriately after his death by NHS staff in Bristol.

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