Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

This is particularly worrisome given the administration's push for electronic medical records to control cost; I would think the cost of a security system (and its maintenance) needed for such confidential information (not even allowed to be discussed with a patient's spouse or child without his or her consent) to be protected would be prohibitive. The system hasn't been built that can't be hacked (and I've had this confirmed by a high-level professional consultant in the field). Private records by a single doctor or even hospital are one thing, but once they start being shared over the 'Net, all bets are off. People with certain diseases are so subject to discrimination, socially and in employment, that there is no remedy for such a leak.