It has been a uprising trends for the medical industry to make use of IT to attempts improve their services and operations. They use it to share and store information among themselves and even with other related industries faster and more efficient than the conventional way. Indeed, Health Informatics will be the way of the coming future. However, it is not without its' flaws.
In this entry, the three of us will talk about of the the issues that is face by the Health Informatics: ethical and legal issues.
Health Care Information VS Personal Privacy
The future infrastructure of health care information will probably have several features that facilitate efficient collection and use of data. Features may include electronic patient records that contain longitudinal birth-to-death accounts of a person's health care status, financing costs of medical care, diagnoses, and treatments, databases that enable more comprehensive and systematic collection, use, and reconfiguration of health care information.
As more and more personnel are able to access the information, patient records is not limited to persons with a primary need for information. This may allow unauthorized persons and organizations might have access to the information.
Health care records contain a vast amount of personal information such as demographic information, financial information, information about disabilities, special medical needs, and other criteria required to determine eligibility for subsidies. This information is frequently sufficient to provide a detailed profile of a person. Therefore, there is great danger of disclosure.
The Enhancing Power of Electronic Databases has the Ability for consumers to control the dissemination of personal information is sharply reduced. However, this may also lead to unauthorized entry to medical and personal data and theft of that data are virtually undetectable.
- Ruixiang -
Ethical Values of Personal Privacy and Societal Benefits
To respect the privacy of others is to respect their autonomous wishes not to be observed and have information about themselves released. Respecting privacy also enhances trusting relationships. It allows patients to confide freely with their physician and other health personnel about the most sensitive medical or personal issues.
Medical secrecy is central to the trustworthiness of the healthcare system, not only in the private interest of the person, but also the respect for the health data should continue after the death of the person.Ethical justification for protecting patient’s information also addresses the economic damage.( E.g Loss of employment , Healthcare insurance or housing.) Pyscological damage will be result from unwanted disclosure of personal information on healthcare.
More efficient use of healthcare promotes higher quality of healthcare , more cost effective service,better scientific research and more effective public health intervention. Although government cannot guarantee a person’s health it can use its resources to prevent disease and disability and to promote healthcare among its population.
In many instance individuals have been willing to sacrifice privacy to obtain services that benefits society. But there are few whom disagrees, so we must respect and maintain their privacy.
- Tamizharasi -
Disclosure of Data to Evaluate Health Care ProvidersConsumers have the rights to assess databases like the efficacy healthcare plan or about the physician. However, physician also claim they the rights not to disclosure as it will affect their reputation. In actual facts, comparing patient information and physician information, patient info is confidential but physician info is not. Their info does not contain their personal info like mental or physical health problems. It just shows their performance only.
Patient information given to physician is private which contain their personal info and should not be exposed to others. This is to preserve the therapeutic relationship between patient and physician. Physician claim the right not to expose their performance to others. But healthcare is view as a service industry and physician as the service provider. Consumers have the right to assess to the data about what are the services provided by hospital which include physician’s performance.
In this case, disclosure of information that evaluates the services cannot be viewed as a privacy issue. Physician should not disclose patient information but not theirs. They should be careful not disclose misleading or inaccurate info to others in order to safeguard their reputation.
- Dawei -
Conclusion
Perhaps what the public desires is not absolute privacy but reasonable assurances that when personal information is collected. Health care providers and related industries will treat the information with respect, store it in an orderly and secure manner, and disclose it only for important public health purposes and in accordance with publicly accountable principles of fairness.
For more information, here are some website that you can access:
National Registry of Diseases Office (NRDO) of Singapore
Annals of Internal Medicine
