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Google to Begin Storing Patients' Health Records
mytrip writes with news that Google's health record archive is about to be tested with the assistance of the Cleveland Clinic. Thousands of patients (who must approve the transfer of information) will have access to everything from their medical histories to lab results through what Google considers a "logical extension" of their search engine. We discussed the planning of this system last year.
"Each health profile, including information about prescriptions, allergies and medical histories, will be protected by a password that's also required to use other Google services such as e-mail and personalized search tools. The health venture also will provide more fodder for privacy watchdogs who believe Google already knows too much about the interests and habits of its users as its computers log their search requests and store their e-mail discussions. Prodded by the criticism, Google last year introduced a new system that purges people's search records after 18 months. In a show of its privacy commitment, Google also successfully rebuffed the U.S. Justice Department's demand to examine millions of its users' search requests in a court battle two years ago."
Seriously, what's the secrecy here?
How we know is more important than what we know.
Maybe because I am part of the Facebook generation, I am more accepting of this type of system. My experience has been that it is a real pain to deal with transferring medical records between different clinics, especially when I am waiting for someone to fax something before I can get my antibiotic. I'm not ashamed of anything in my medical records (no abortions or STDs), so I am willing to take the risk that they might be stolen/sold to a third party/examined by the government/used for targeted advertising in order to gain the convenience of being able to access my medical records quickly in an emergency situation.