Fifty doctors and nurses face charges over alleged patient record snooping

Fifty doctors and nurses from the North Ostrobothnia wellbeing services county are facing charges over alleged unauthorised access to patient records, Yle reports. The trial began on Monday at the Oulu District Court.

Prosecutors allege that the defendants accessed information systems without permission or a proper reason to view records connected to a failed operation and the patient involved.

The defendants include specialist doctors, doctors and nurses. The case is being heard as a data protection offence, and the trial has been scheduled for 16 days.

The alleged snooping came to light after the employee whose records were accessed suspected that someone had viewed them without authorisation and began investigating the matter.

The employee, who is taking part in the case as an injured party, is seeking compensation from those accused of viewing the information.