ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - A Newfoundland health board at the centre of the province's botched breast-cancer testing scandal is defending itself against accusations it's trying to muzzle its employees.
Eastern Health is asking its staff to sign a new confidentiality agreement that requires them not to publicly discuss information concerning its business.
The province's medical association has raised questions about the new policy, saying it is concerned the agreement may prevent doctors from speaking out about Eastern Health's operations.
But John Guy, Eastern Health's director of medical services, says the contract is not unusual and that the reference to business relates to the health board's financial information.
Eastern Health has come under much scrutiny in the past year since it was revealed that nearly 400 patients were given the wrong results on their breast-cancer tests.
It is currently the subject of a public inquiry, which is trying to determine how the testing errors happened and whether Eastern Health responded to patients and the public appropriately.
