Opinion ID: 2575981
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Health Care Information Exemption

Text: ¶ 74 The parties also dispute whether DOC should be permitted to redact inmates' health care information when they have also redacted inmate names and identification numbers. PLN asserts that once the names and identification numbers are removed, the health care information can no longer be linked to particular inmates. DOC argues to the contrary that given the context of a prison, even without names and numbers, health care information can readily be associated with individual inmates. However, unlike DOC's argument regarding the investigative records exemption, DOC does not sufficiently support its argument for application of the health care information exemption with affidavits or other evidence. ¶ 75 In reviewing agency actions under the PDA, this court is put in the same position as the trial court and is asked to weigh the facts de novo. See Dawson, 120 Wash.2d at 788, 845 P.2d 995. Because there are very few facts in the record for us to consider, I agree with the majority that remand for closer consideration is warranted. On remand, however, the court should consider the prison context. ¶ 76 RCW 70.02.020 prohibits disclosure of health care information, which is defined as information . . . that identifies or can readily be associated with the identity of a patient and directly relates to the patient's health care. RCW 70.02.010(6). That definition includes (1) patient identity and (2) information about the patient's health care. Wright v. Jeckle, 121 Wash.App. 624, 630, 90 P.3d 65 (2004). PLN asserts that the redacted informationinformation pertaining to inmates' health caredoes not satisfy the identity requirement of health care information because DOC already redacted inmates' names and identifying numbers. Pet'r's Suppl. Br. at 13-14. According to PLN, health care information could not possibly be used to infer the identities of inmates receiving the care. Id. ¶ 77 Case law has not interpreted the definition of health care information so strictly. In Doe v. Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Inc., 85 Wash.App. 213, 932 P.2d 178 (1997), overruled on other grounds by Reid v. Pierce County, 136 Wash.2d 195, 961 P.2d 333 (1998), only the name of an individual was disclosed. However, the court held that given the context of the environment in which the information was discloseda training session for medical personnel, specifically regarding how to access mental health treatment history of patientsrecipients could readily infer that the individual was receiving mental health treatment, information about his health care. Id. at 217-18, 961 P.2d 333. ¶ 78 The reciprocal of the situation in Doe is present here. Although the names and identifying numbers of inmates have been redacted because of the context of a prison and the environment in which inmates livein close proximity to one another with calculated routinesinmates could readily infer from information such as injuries, treatments, or even just dates on which such events occurred, to whom the health care information pertained. PLN puts forth only bald assertions that once the names of prisoners are removed, it simply would not be possible to link disclosed health care information to specific prisoners. Pet'r's Suppl. Br. at 13-14. Those assertions fail to consider the practical realities of a prison.