National Cancer Centre 'deeply sorry' after email error exposes details of more than 460 patients英国国家癌症中心就邮件错误泄露460多名患者信息一事表示“深表歉意”。
The National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) has apologised after error with an invitation caused recipients' emails to be visible to one another, according to a statement by the centre on Saturday (Sept 19).The email sent out on Friday evening, comprised an invitation to 467 people to an event organised by the centre.Instead of using the blind carbon copy option that...
The National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) has apologised after error with an invitation caused recipients' emails to be visible to one another, according to a statement by the centre on Saturday (Sept 19).
The email sent out on Friday evening, comprised an invitation to 467 people to an event organised by the centre.
Instead of using the blind carbon copy option that hides the email addresses of recipients from each other, NCCS used the regular carbon copy option.
If a patient used their work email, anyone who received the message could see where they worked.
NCCS chief operating officer Chong Pang Boon explained that it was an "administrative error" for their invitation to their Living with Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) event.
The event is open to people living with HBOC syndrome and their loved ones, he added.
"Apart from email addresses, no NRIC numbers, phone numbers or other personal data were revealed," Chong, who is also the NCCS data protection officer, assured.
"We apologise for any anxiety this may have caused, and we are deeply sorry for the error.
"We have notified recipients of the email to provide support and address any concerns they may have."
He also stressed that the centre takes personal data protection seriously, and has reported the incident to the Ministry of Health and the Personal Data Protection Commission.
At present, the centre is also investigating and reviewing internal process to prevent this from happening again.
AsiaOne has contacted the Personal Data Protection Commission for more information.
khooyihang@asiaone.com
新加坡国家癌症中心（NCCS）周六（9月19日）发表声明称，由于邀请函出错，导致收件人的电子邮件地址彼此可见，该中心已就此事道歉。
周五晚上发出的电子邮件邀请了 467 人参加该中心组织的活动。
NCCS 没有使用隐藏收件人电子邮件地址的密送选项，而是使用了普通的抄送选项。
如果病人使用工作邮箱，那么收到邮件的任何人都能看到病人的工作单位。
NCCS首席运营官Chong Pang Boon解释说，他们发出“与遗传性乳腺癌和卵巢癌共存”活动的邀请函是一个“行政错误”。
他还补充说，本次活动面向患有遗传性乳腺癌/卵巢癌综合征 (HBOC) 的患者及其亲人开放。
“除了电子邮件地址外，没有泄露任何身份证号码、电话号码或其他个人数据，”同时也是国家公民服务中心数据保护官的 Chong 保证道。
“对于由此可能造成的任何焦虑，我们深表歉意，并对这一错误深感抱歉。”
“我们已通知邮件收件人，以便提供支持并解决他们可能存在的任何疑虑。”
他还强调，该中心非常重视个人数据保护，并已将此事报告给卫生部和个人数据保护委员会。
目前，该中心也在调查和审查内部流程，以防止此类事件再次发生。
AsiaOne已联系个人数据保护委员会以获取更多信息。
khooyihang@asiaone.com