Your Privacy and the Secure Handling of Personal Data
At Visus Eye Clinic, we place great importance on protecting your privacy. For your examination, treatment, and aftercare, we require certain personal data, including medical information. We process this data solely to provide you with safe, responsible, and high-quality care. Your information is stored digitally in a secure Electronic Patient Record (EPD) within our protected server environment. All processing is carried out in accordance with our privacy and data-security policies and fully complies with applicable laws and regulations.
Why We Process Your Data
We process personal data because this is necessary for:
- executing the treatment agreement (WGBO);
- medical diagnostics, treatment, and guidance (GDPR art. 9(2)(h));
- legal obligations, such as the mandatory retention period for medical records.
We process only the personal data that are necessary for carrying out your treatment, providing responsible healthcare, and handling the associated administrative processes.
How We Handle Your Personal Data
Identification and Safe Care
Your data is used to verify your identity and ensure that you receive safe and appropriate medical treatment.
Disclosure of Data to Third Parties
Sometimes third parties—such as your GP or another specialist—may request medical information. In these cases, we follow strict legal requirements:
- We only provide information with your explicit consent, unless the law requires otherwise.
- The requester must explain why the information is needed.
- Our physicians only share information that is necessary and permitted under medical confidentiality.
- In medical emergencies, information may be shared without consent if needed to prevent serious harm to the patient.
Your Rights as a Patient
Right of Access
You have the right to view your personal data and/or medical file. To do so, you may submit a written request. We will respond within one month and provide the information free of charge unless the request is unfounded or excessive.
Correction
Is there something incorrect in your medical record? You may request correction of your details in writing, either by letter or by email. We will ensure that your information is corrected or supplemented where necessary.
Deletion of Data
You may request the destruction of (parts of) your medical record. We will comply with such a request insofar as it is medically responsible and permitted by law, for example in accordance with the statutory retention period under the WGBO. Your request can be submitted by letter or by email. Under the WGBO, we are required to retain your medical record for 20 years.
Objection
You may object to the processing of your personal data at any time. We will evaluate your objection carefully.
Data Breaches
If a data breach occurs involving your personal data, we will notify you immediately and take appropriate measures In order to limit the consequences and prevent recurrence, in accordance with the requirements of the AVG.
Complaint to the Dutch Data Protection Authority
You have the right to file a complaint with the Dutch Data Protection Authority if you believe that we do not handle your personal data with due care.
Retention Periods
If You Receive Treatment
Your medical file is retained for a minimum of 20 years, calculated from the date of the most recent update or entry in your medical record (for example, the last treatment or follow-up), in accordance with the WGBO. Information we receive from third parties that forms part of your record is subject to the same retention period.
If You Do Not Proceed With Treatment
If you decide not to undergo treatment after the initial examination, we retain your data for 6 months. This is necessary for administrative purposes and to answer any follow-up questions. After this period, your data is deleted automatically unless you request in writing that we retain it longer.
Questions About Your Privacy?
If you have any questions about this privacy statement or about how we handle your personal data, please feel free to contact us. We are happy to help.