SAN and Department of Health

Application number:
1997 S0056
Decision date:
Tuesday, Feb 01, 2000

SAN and Gold Coast District Health Service (Department of Health)
(1997 S0056, 1 February 2000)

The matter in issue comprised documents concerning the applicant's treatment at the Southport Hospital and related outpatient clinics for substance abuse and other health issues, including his participation in the methadone program. 

The Information Commissioner found that the methadone program was 'a system or procedure for the protection of persons' and that the relevant documents qualified for exemption under s.42(1)(h) of the FOI Act.  The Information Commissioner also found that, in the circumstances of this case, applying the principles stated in S and the Medical Board of Queensland (1994) 2 QAR 249, certain of the documents should only be disclosed to a specialist psychiatrist, nominated by the applicant and approved by the principal officer of the respondent, in accordance with s.44(3) of the FOI Act.