A former employee with Western Health was fined Thursday in a privacy breach at the hospital in Corner Brook . Donna Colbourne accessed more than 1,000 patient files at Western Memorial Regional Hospital while working there as an accounting clerk until 2012 . Judge Kymil Howe , appearing by video conference from Stephenville , imposed a $ 5,000 fine on Colbourne after she obtained personal health information on 75 different occasions . " The affect of the breach is far reaching by the accused by mindless meddling into personal affairs , " said Howe . " I am very aware of the simple truth : this accused knew better . " The Crown wanted a $ 7,500 fine for Colbourne , but Howe settled on the lower fine because Colbourne did not share any of the information with anyone , and it was n't medical charts or health records , but just names and billing addresses obtained . Crown attorney Vikas Khaladkar said it was n't what he was looking for , but he was still satisfied with the verdict . " I particularly appreciated the thoughtfulness with which she [ Judge Howe ] addressed the breach of privacy and the impact it can have on people , " said Khaladkar . Colbourne did not appear in court . She was not under arrest or under any probation so it was not necessary for her to appear . She is the first person to be convicted under the province 's personal health information act . ;