Privacy and Security

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Health records used to be considered a private matter between the doctor and the patient but, with the continued growth of third party health maintenance organizations (HMO's), doctors are required to share their records with each other and the HMO's.

WHO HAS ACCESS TO RECORDS: In present situation ones health records can be accessed by employers, insurance companies, and drug manufacturing companies.

Also, in teaching hospitals anyone from the nursing staff to the x-ray technician have access to a patient's medical records. As hospitals are begining to computerize their medical records there is a good chance that more people have access to these records.

Besides the hospitals, organizations like HMO's and drug companies are also aquiring information on individuals and storing them in their computer data banks. Some of these organizations have already began trading and selling this valuable information through vast networks of computers.

HOW IS THIS INFORMATION BEING USED: Health and Life Insurance companies require a person to release his/her medical records before they will issue a policy.

Government agencies like Medicare or Social Security Administration.

The Medical Information Bureau. Every time anyone files an insurance claim, a copy of the information goes to MIB.

Some institutions gather medical information on individuals and sell that information to drug companies.

Links to Privacy and Security Issues:

Prozac Manufacturers Computer Error

Doctor-Patient E-Privilege