What if I don’t get the information I am looking for? Is there an appeal process?
If you do not receive the hospital’s response within the 30-day time frame, you can appeal to the IPC office on the basis of a “deemed refusal.” The hospital may decide not to release all of the information that you request, in which case it would have to cite the sections of FIPPA it is using to withhold the information from you. If you disagree, you can then ask the IPC to review the decision by making an “appeal.” You can do this by writing a letter or using the IPC Appeal Form and enclosing an appeal fee.