The grieving family of a teenage boy 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 struck 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 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 the 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 conducted.
SA Health has been made aware of the incidents and is currently investigating 18 staff members who accessed Charlie’s records.
Health officials have already suspended 10 staff, pending further investigations.
Charlie Stevens (pictured) died after he was struck by a car in Goolwa, south of Adelaide on November 17
The Stevens family has been made aware of the investigation.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted SA Police for further comment.
The allegations come as Charlie’s parents Grant and Emma Stevens prepare to open up about the loss of their son in an emotional interview set to air on Sunday night.
The SA Police Commissioner and his wife recalled the heartbreaking moment they feared the worst.
‘The next thing we were at the hospital…we knew, when we saw him [Charlie],’ Mr Stevens told 60 Minutes.
His wife added: ‘We knew straight away.’
The mother-of-five said she has been left devastated by what happened but added that the couple have forgiven Randhawa.
‘There was anger, but sadness [for the driver], because his life has changed now,’ Ms Stevens said.
Charlie (pictured left) was waiting for a bus to head to Schoolies celebrations in Victor Harbor when tragedy struck. he’s pictured with his dad, SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens
SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens and his wife Emma have opened up about the tragedy in an emotional interview that will air on 60 Minutes on Sunday night
A SA Health spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia protecting the private clinical information of patients is a matter that is taken very seriously.
‘We have robust policies and processes in place to ensure that staff are accessing appropriate information and conduct audits to ensure our polices are complied with,’ the spokeswoman said.
‘Any staff member who has accessed information inappropriately will be subject to disciplinary processes, which may include termination of their employment’.
South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas was shocked to hear about the alleged breach.
‘I couldn’t believe it when I heard about this,’ he said.
‘Just because you work in the health system doesn’t give you a right to go looking into other people’s business.’
Hospital staff who are found to have inappropriately accessed the medical records of patients without authorisation will be sacked.
The rule was introduced by SA Health in 2015 as part of a termination policy.
Dhirren Randhawa (pictured with his mum) pleaded guilty in Adelaide Magistrates Court last month on one count of driving without care
Randhawa pleaded guilty in Adelaide Magistrates Court last month on one count of driving without care.
He also pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident after causing death.
Randhawa will return to court on August 9 for arraignment on the charges he pleaded guilty to.
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