Author Topic: Funeral Directors and the Privacy Act  (Read 20008 times)

Offline Janette

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Funeral Directors and the Privacy Act
« on: Wednesday 03 November 10 19:40 GMT (UK) »
Hi All,
Yesterday I emailed a Funeral Director asking for info and was refused under the Privacy Act.
I made an inquiry to the Privacy Commissioner's Office,this was the reply I received this morning

Dear Janette ,
 
The Privacy Act deals with personal information about a natural person which means that general information about a deceased person is not covered by the Privacy Act. However health information about a deceased person is covered by the Privacy Act and remains so for 20 years from the date of death.
 
Therefore if the information you wished to obtain from the FD was not health information, then the Privacy Act would not restrict the information being disclosed to you.
 
I trust this information will be useful.
 
Regards
XXXXX  XXXXXXXXX
Senior Enquiries Officer
Office of the Privacy Commissioner





Offline kiwihalfpint

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Re: Funeral Directors and the Privacy Act
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday 03 November 10 20:18 GMT (UK) »
Thanks for posting and clarifying Janette.    Be handy to have for future use.

Cheers
KHP
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline newbe_nz

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Re: Funeral Directors and the Privacy Act
« Reply #2 on: Wednesday 03 November 10 20:22 GMT (UK) »
I would also like to say thanks Janette as well.

It looks like something we can use in the future for some of our requests to FD's

Newbe
Purcell, - Limerick - Ireland,Australia, Westland, NZ
Coppell  - England 1734 to now, New Zealand - 1853 to now
Buckby - England, Australia, New Zealand - 1630 to now
Smith New Zealand
Parker -England - New Zealand  - 1800 to now
Lilley,Lillie, Lilly  - England -New Zealand - 1800 to now
Dykins - Wales, England, New Zealand -  1752 to now
Reynolds, England- 1800 to now
Newdick -Norfolk and Suffolk England , Australia, New Zealand - 1700 to now

Offline johnbarr

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Re: Funeral Directors and the Privacy Act
« Reply #3 on: Wednesday 03 November 10 20:36 GMT (UK) »
Thanks Janette,

I wonder if we could use that argument in prising details from BDM where they refuse to provide a printout of early birth that might show details of father.  ???
as described here
http://www.mail-archive.com/new-zealand-l@rootsweb.com/msg05529.html

Would welcome advice from anyone else with this problem.

John B
Barraclough, Barron, Hunter, Marsden, Pawson, Sowden, Street, Vowless,


Offline Suzy W

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Re: Funeral Directors and the Privacy Act
« Reply #4 on: Wednesday 03 November 10 21:26 GMT (UK) »
That's interesting.  I must of had a lucky day when I emailed a funeral Director last year.  I asked for the family's details, and within that hour I made contact with a long lost relation on mum's side.  Found out death cause by asking this ladies daughter, so maybe when asking funeral directors for details, just ask for direct relations contact phone number or address.

Suzy W
TEW family of Leire/Leicester and New Zealand
MERRICKS of Stafford/Birmingham
PENTECOST of Surrey and New Zealand
POTENTIER of France, England and Canada
WATKINS of London and New Zealand
WHITAKER of Guiseley Yorkshire and New Zealand
LYALL, of Dundee, Caithness and New Zealand

And far too many to add

Offline Thamesite2017

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Re: Funeral Directors and the Privacy Act
« Reply #5 on: Wednesday 03 November 10 21:36 GMT (UK) »
Good to know this info
I think that funeral directors vary greatly in what they provide..don't you find this  ???
Some just flick you all the info they have, and others seems more hesitant
Bye
Althea

Offline Janette

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Re: Funeral Directors and the Privacy Act
« Reply #6 on: Wednesday 03 November 10 23:30 GMT (UK) »
I forwarded the Privacy Commisioners email to the FD and received copies of the death certs almost immediately  ;D ;D

Offline andycand

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Re: Funeral Directors and the Privacy Act
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 04 November 10 03:16 GMT (UK) »

Whilst in this case the FD incorrectly referred to the Privacy Act in refusing information, what if they simply refused, is there any legislation that compels a FD to provide information?

Andy

Offline lil growler

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Re: Funeral Directors and the Privacy Act
« Reply #8 on: Wednesday 04 May 11 21:27 BST (UK) »
Andy thats an interesting question...it could be ambigious, although information but on health isn't private, do they have to supply the information.

I have just received an email stating that FD records are not a public document..so I have asked them to clarify and copied off Janettes response from the commisioner...we'll see how that pans out.

lil
Ireland, Scotland , England, America, Australia, New Zealand