[Med-privacy] EMRs & privacy

[Peter Marshall]

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Confidentiality fear over records
  By Nick Triggle
  BBC News health reporter in Manchester

  Doctors fear the computerisation of medical records could threaten=20
patient confidentiality.

  In future records will be stored on a national database, which will=20
allow staff to access information wherever someone is treated.

  However, doctors are concerned the system, part of the NHS's =A36.2bn =
IT=20
upgrade, could be open to abuse.

  The issue was debated at the British Medical Association conference in=20=

Manchester.

  BMA survey results
  75% of patients would not mind their health information being held on=20=

a central database
  75% had concerns about the security of information
  81% were worried about accessibility by people other than the=20
healthcare professionals providing their care
  93% said the public should be fully consulted about the proposals=20
before they are finalised

  A survey released by the BMA on Thursday shows members of the public=20=

recognise the potential value of the new system - but many are=20
seriously concerned about its security.

  Dr Richard Vautrey, a GP from Leeds and lead for IT on the BMA's GP=20
committee, said: "Doctors have a fundamental duty to protect the=20
confidentiality of the information that patients tell them.

  "And many doctors remained concerned that we seem to be sleepwalking=20=

into a system where a significant amount of personal and medical=20
information is held on a national database without either us or=20
patients fully understanding the long-term implications."

  Dr Vautrey said there was an urgent need for a public debate about the=20=

changes, both about the amount of information that is held on the=20
system, and how patients could opt out without compromising access to=20
healthcare.

  [....]

Story from BBC NEWS:
  http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/health/4633213.stm

  Published: 2005/06/29 12:22:02 GMT

  =A9 BBC MMV=

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<=
bold><fontfamily><param>Helvetica</param><bigger><bigger><bigger>Confident=
iality
fear over records

=
</bigger></bigger></bigger></fontfamily></bold><fontfamily><param>Helvetic=
a</param><smaller>
By Nick Triggle=20

 BBC News health reporter in Manchester=20


<bold> Doctors fear the computerisation of medical records could
threaten patient confidentiality.</bold>=20


 In future records will be stored on a national database, which will
allow staff to access information wherever someone is treated.


 However, doctors are concerned the system, part of the NHS's =A36.2bn
IT upgrade, could be open to abuse.


 The issue was debated at the British Medical Association conference
in Manchester.


<bold><x-tad-bigger> BMA survey results

=
</x-tad-bigger></bold></smaller></fontfamily><fontfamily><param>Helvetica<=
/param><smaller>
75% of patients would not mind their health information being held on
a central database

 75% had concerns about the security of information

 81% were worried about accessibility by people other than the
healthcare professionals providing their care

 93% said the public should be fully consulted about the proposals
before they are finalised


 A survey released by the BMA on Thursday shows members of the public
recognise the potential value of the new system - but many are
seriously concerned about its security.


 Dr Richard Vautrey, a GP from Leeds and lead for IT on the BMA's GP
committee, said: "Doctors have a fundamental duty to protect the
confidentiality of the information that patients tell them.


 "And many doctors remained concerned that we seem to be sleepwalking
into a system where a significant amount of personal and medical
information is held on a national database without either us or
patients fully understanding the long-term implications."


 Dr Vautrey said there was an urgent need for a public debate about
the changes, both about the amount of information that is held on the
system, and how patients could opt out without compromising access to
healthcare.


<bold> [....]

</bold>

<color><param>6666,6666,6666</param><x-tad-smaller>Story from BBC =
NEWS:</x-tad-smaller></color><x-tad-smaller>

</x-tad-smaller><color><param>6666,6666,6666</param><x-tad-smaller>
=
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/health/4633213.stm</x-tad-smaller></=
color><x-tad-smaller>


</x-tad-smaller><color><param>6666,6666,6666</param><x-tad-smaller>
Published: 2005/06/29 12:22:02 =
GMT</x-tad-smaller></color><x-tad-smaller>


</x-tad-smaller><color><param>6666,6666,6666</param><x-tad-smaller> =A9
BBC MMV</x-tad-smaller></color></smaller></fontfamily>=

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