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Google to Begin Storing Patients' Health Records

Posted by Soulskill on from the meet-doctor-google dept.

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."

7 of 214 comments (clear)

  1. Great... by ihaveamo · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now I'm going to get TARGETED Viagra spam....

    1. Re:Great... by WK2 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yes, but we can't use the beevil tag for Microsoft, because that would be redundant.

      --
      Write your own Choose Your Own Adventure. http://www.freegameengines.org/gamebook-engine/
    2. Re:Great... by gsslay · · Score: 5, Funny

      No no no no no nooo. Not spam; adsense.

      Just think how useful this could be for your doctor. No more tedious working out what to prescribe you. Just type the diagnosis into your google page, refresh, and adsense will immediately deliver links to drugs that are just the job!!

      And you get paid for the click-thrus! It's a win-win scenario and almost worth being ill for!

  2. Re:Not Mine by QuantumG · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm guessing you're about 19 years old right? The 1980s called, they said you should really pay attention to the world around you.

    --
    How we know is more important than what we know.
  3. Future Killer App by clang_jangle · · Score: 4, Funny

    DeGoogle. Removes all traces of you from Google.

    --
    Caveat Utilitor
  4. Re:Double-edged sword by pthor1231 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I hope you know that your parent and the parent of your other comment about immunization records are the same person.

  5. i'm in ur... by MyOhMyOhMy · · Score: 2, Funny
    ...HOSPITAL, GOOGLing ur MEDICAL RECORDS

    Sorry, I just couldn't resist.