The grieving family of a teenager killed in a hit-and-run during Schoolies have been dealt another cruel blow after hospital staff were accused of inappropriately accessing his medical records.
Charlie Stevens, the son of South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, was hit by a car driven by Dhirren Randhawa in Goolwa, south of Adelaide, on November 17 last year.
Charlie, 18, was with friends waiting for a bus to head to the Schoolies celebrations in Victor Harbor when the tragedy unfolded.
He was rushed to Flinders Medical Centre but died the next day from a severe brain injury.
It has now emerged that staff at Adelaide Hospital have been accused of inappropriately accessing Charlie’s personal medical records.
The alleged incidents were detected several months ago when an audit of the computer system was carried out.
SA Health has been informed of the incidents and is currently investigating 18 staff members who accessed Charlie’s records.
Health authorities have already suspended 10 employees, pending further investigations.
Charlie Stevens (pictured) died after being hit by a car in Goolwa, south of Adelaide, on November 17.
The Stevens family has been informed of the investigation.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted South African police for further comment.
The allegations come as Charlie’s parents, Grant and Emma Stevens, prepare to speak out about the loss of their son in an emotional interview set to air Sunday night.
South Africa’s police commissioner and his wife recalled the harrowing moment when they feared the worst.
“The next thing we did was get to the hospital… we knew when we saw him (Charlie),” Stevens told 60 Minutes.
His wife added: “We knew immediately.”
The mother of five said she was devastated by what happened, but added that the couple had forgiven Randhawa.
“There was anger, but also sadness (for the driver), because his life had changed now,” Stevens said.
Charlie (pictured left) was waiting for a bus to go to the Schoolies celebrations in Victor Harbor when the tragedy occurred. He is pictured with his father, South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens.
South African Police Commissioner Grant Stevens and his wife Emma spoke about the tragedy in an emotional interview to be broadcast on 60 Minutes on Sunday night.
An SA Health spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia that protecting patients’ private clinical information is a matter it takes very seriously.
“We have robust policies and processes in place to ensure staff have access to appropriate information and we conduct audits to ensure our policies are followed,” the spokeswoman said.
‘Any staff member found to have accessed information inappropriately will be subject to disciplinary proceedings, up to and including dismissal.’
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas was shocked to learn of the alleged rape.
“I couldn’t believe it when I heard about this,” he said.
“Just because you work in the health care system doesn’t give you the right to investigate other people’s affairs.”
Hospital staff found to have improperly accessed patients’ medical records without authorization will be terminated.
The rule was introduced by SA Health in 2015 as part of a termination policy.
Dhirren Randhawa (pictured with his mother) pleaded guilty in the Adelaide Magistrates Court last month to one count of careless driving.
Randhawa pleaded guilty in Adelaide Magistrates Court last month to one count of careless driving.
He also pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident after causing death.
Randhawa is due back in court on August 9 to be arraigned on the charges to which he pleaded guilty.
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