Re: Where CDT and 1360 leads us - description of Health data base palnned for washington state

[Robert Gellman <rgellman@cais.cais.com>]

Thank you for posting the description of the Washington state plan for a 
health data base.  This illustrates the point that I have made here that 
all of these health databases are proceeding today, without any legal 
protection for patients.  There is little law that prevents all of the 
CURRENTLY planned and implemented uses.

The legislation on Capitol Hill places restrictions on the use of health 
data that do not exist today.  The legislation does not authorize, fund, 
or require these activities.  It regulates the use of medical data with 
new rules that do not exist today.  It gives patients rights that they do 
not have today.

You are welcome to think that the legislation is not strong enough.  But 
you are not welcome to blame the legislation for the computerization of 
records and creation of databases.  That is proceeding apace with no 
protections.

Bob

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