Utterly Meaningless » Blog Archive » I WANT AN OPT OUT
  • I WANT AN OPT OUT

    Filed at 8:35 pm under by dcobranchi

    Computerized medical records might be the greatest thing since sliced bread, but I absolutely don’t trust the gov’t, the insurance companies, and sales & marketing types not to abuse the database. If I have to, I’ll cajole and/or bribe my physician to keep me out.

    4 Responses to “I WANT AN OPT OUT”


    Comment by
    Ms. D
    January 13th, 2009
    at 1:02 am

    I have to disagree with you and one year ago I would have yelled no way no how. We are part of a European nationalized health care system. Everyone has a plastic health card. All doctors visits, filled presciptions, medical test results are on that card. The contents of the card can be read by anyone I hand that card to. There in lies the privacy of the records from insurance, employers, and the government. For folks with a complicated medical history having all xrays, scans, and lab work and meds together and in historical order is a god send to me and my physician. Yes, its a very different way of thinking about it, but I am very comfortable with the privacy issue because the card is mine and I control who sees it.


    Comment by
    Daryl Cobranchi
    January 13th, 2009
    at 2:51 am

    We are part of a European nationalized health care system.

    Therein lies the rub. European gov’ts do an infinitely better job at respecting their citizens’ right to privacy. Hell! The GOP doesn’t even acknowledge that we, the people, have any such right.


    Comment by
    Suze
    January 13th, 2009
    at 10:51 pm

    “I am very comfortable with the privacy issue because the card is mine and I control who sees it.”

    Really? So, the data exist solely on the card you carry about? Nowhere else? And, literally, nobody ever sees it unless you’ve handed over your card? And then they can only see it while said card is in their possession under your supervision?

    What do you do if you misplace the card?

    “European gov’ts do an infinitely better job at respecting their citizens’ right to privacy. ”

    In name, perhaps (maybe; sometimes; technically), but not necessarily in deed.

    Anyway, the issue isn’t what they claim they’ll do or not do, or allow or not allow. The issue is what will, inevitably, happen to the data, utterly regardless of whatever is enshrined in a document or handed down by a court.

    Example:
    openri...bacles


    Comment by
    Nance Confer
    January 14th, 2009
    at 10:01 am

    Compared with what? How paper medical and other records are handled now?

    Nance