The Cape Breton District Health Authority gave 277 patients' names, addresses and two lab results to researchers without first gaining consent, reports The Cape Breton Post. While a proper protocol was in place, doctors did not follow it. The authority's CEO, John Malcom, has called the incident a "serious error" and said the authority has written letters to all those affected and "strengthened the understanding of this in health records, so in the future, before any access is given to patient results like this, we have to see the consent of the individual." Malcom said all the data has been withdrawn from the study and returned to the authority.

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