Arman Vyas, 23, was employed by two GP practices where he accessed confidential reports and took screenshots which he sent to others including on social media app Snapchat
A doctor’s receptionist has been found guilty of sharing patients’ medical records to ‘impress his mates’.
Arman Vyas, 23, who worked at two GP practices in Glasgow and East Dunbartonshire, accessed confidential reports and took screenshots which he then shared with others, including on Snapchat.
The court heard that Vyas even showed one of his victim’s medical records at a pub, causing her distress. His lawyer argued that Vyas didn’t realise his actions were illegal and was “encouraged by others” to commit the crime.
Vyas admitted to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at Glasgow Sheriff Court. Sheriff Louise Arrol KC said the case was “as close as a first offender can be to a custodial sentence.”
The Stirling University student was tagged for 20 weeks, keeping him indoors between 9pm and 7am, and put under supervision for two years.
A three-year non-harassment order was also granted, prohibiting Vyas from contacting his victims. The court was told that Vyas worked at the Glasgow practice from October 2021 to May 2022 and had access to the practice’s 7,500 patients on their computer system, reports the Daily Record.
He accessed the records of one of his victims and scrolled back to an entry from 2018 about an issue of “intimate in nature.”
Prosecutor Redmond Harris revealed: “He took a picture on his phone and used Snapchat to send the image to another person. This was not reported on while he was employed by the health centre.”
A man has been accused of accessing and sharing confidential medical records from his place of work. The individual, known as Vyas, allegedly accessed several patients’ files without reason or authority, according to Mr Harris.
He stated: “It showed that Vyas had accessed several other patients’ files without reason or authority.”
Vyas was also employed by the East Dunbartonshire practice between November 2022 and January 2023 which contained 7,800 patients. He reportedly accessed the records of a second person and shared a highly personal diagnosis.
Vyas is said to have taken a picture of the file and sent it to the same recipient from the earlier matter. He also attended Tingle bar in Glasgow and shared the medical records of the victim.
This caused “distress” to the victim. Another person claimed that Vyas was “bragging” about having access to the medical records, causing her anxiety.
Mr Harris added: “The person stated that Vyas’ actions had ruined her at the time and felt devastated and embarrassed.”
An audit at the practice found that Vyas had also accessed the records of a doctor and his daughter. Vyas, of Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire, handed himself into police and made full admissions when questioned.
Megan McAllister, defending, told the court: “He said he did not receive training about data protection but signed contracts.”
During his defence, he explained that others had asked and urged him to do so, but acknowledges that it was he who accessed and disclosed private information to others, citing youthful immaturity in trying to impress friends and not fully grasping the severity and illegality his of actions. In the sentencing remarks, Sheriff Arrol said: “You were placed in a breach of trust with the most private personal information. I do not accept that someone with your intellect didn’t know the importance of this information.”
“You took it upon yourself to get this information about people and use it for other purposes which I do not understand – immaturity is not an explanation. You come from a pro-social family who are not in the criminal justice system and you are at university which makes it more bizarre and highly vindictive. I find it deeply concerning that I can find no motivation other than mindless on your part.”
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