Question

what ethical concerns do you have about the sharing of health data online

Answer 1

Electronic health record (EHR) is increasingly being implemented in many developing countries. It is the need of hour because it improves the quality of Healthcare and his also cost effective. Technologies can introduce some hazards and safety of information in the system is a real challenge. Recent news of security breaches has put a question mark on this system. Despite its increased usefulness, an increasing enthusiasm in its adoption, not much attention is being paid to the ethical issues that might arise. securing electronic health records with encrypted password is a probable option. The concerns related to the electronic health records are;

Privacy and confidentiality

It is the right of an individual to keep information about themselves from being disclosed to others. the claim of individuals to be let alone from surveillance or interference from other individuals, organisation or the government. Information of the patient should be released to others only with patients permission for allowed by law. When a patient is unable to do so because of age, mental incapacity the decision about information sharing should be made by the legal representative or legal guardian of the patient.information shared after result of clinical interaction is considered on potential and must be protected. Although controlling access to health information is important, but it is not sufficient for protecting the confidentiality. Additional security steps strong privacy and security policies are essential to secure patient's information.

Security breaches

Security breaches return patient privacy when confidential health information is made available to others without the individuals consent authorization. Security measures such as firewalls, antivirus software, and intrusion detection software must be included to protect data integrity. Specific policies and procedures to maintain patient privacy and confidentiality. Outside vendors create special privacy issues. Employee only e access to the electronic medical records requires any external vendor to access and navigate the record under authorization and oversight of an employee.

System system implementation

Healthcare organisations encounter major challenges in the course of electronic health record implementation, these challenges result in waste resources, frustrated providers, loss of confidence by patients and patient safety issues. The development, implementation, and maintenance of electronic health records requires adequate funds and involvement of many individuals, including clinicians , information technologist, educators and consultants.

Hospitals and Healthcare institutions are making improvements without significant clinician engagements. mini electronic health records implementation projects fail because they underestimate the importance of one or more clinician to serve as opinion leaders for providers in the clinic. Thus, clinician master guide colleagues in the understanding their roles in the implementation and enlisting their involvement in tasks as electronic health record selection, workflow design, and quality improvement.

Data inaccuracies

Integrity issues that the data is a corporate and has not been changed. Electronic health records serves as a way to improve the patient safety by reducing Healthcare errors, reduce health disparities and improve the health of public. however concerns have been raised about the accuracy and reliability of data entered into the electronic record.

India current representation of patients current condition and treatment occurs due to the improper use of option such as cut and paste. this practice is an acceptable because it increases the risk for patients and liability for clinicians and organisations. another feature that can use problem in the data integrity is the drop down menu and the position of relevant information in the trash. Such may limit the choices available to the creation who in a Harry may choose the wrong one leading to major errors. Clinicians and vendors have been working to resolve software problems to make a electronic health records both user friendly and accurate.

Loss or destruction of data occurs during the data transfer, this rises concern about the accuracy of data base as patient care decisions are based on them. A growing problem is of medical identity theft. Thus result in the input of inaccurate information into record of the victim. The persons insurance company is billed for medical services not provided to the actual policy holder and patients future treatment is guided by misinformation that neither the patient nor the provider immediately recognise