Bernadine Healy, M.D. had a commentary in USA Today a few days ago that reiterates some of the concerns privacy advocates have raised. It’s interesting to see how many people from different fields have all cited the Alex Rodriguez case as an example of where someone’s privacy was violated with significant consequences:
Look at Alex Rodriguez. A breached pledge to keep confidential those urine tests for steroids taken in 2003 has left his career a shambles, and 103 other players are waiting for their results to be leaked to the press, too. Their past transgressions notwithstanding, more than 1,000 ballplayers consented to these tests back then, with the understanding that results would be anonymous. The findings were to be destroyed after the league assessed the magnitude of the problem. (In a similar design years ago, anonymous HIV testing studies helped reveal the size of the AIDS epidemic.) The players’ data led to what are now stringent drug testing and penalties, as there were none at the time.
Of course, that was an intentional and willful breach. And that could certainly happen again — someone or our government could promise us that our data will never be used against us and then change their mind later on. But frankly, what scares me even more is the unintended breaches due to security breaches involving huge databases with personally identifiable information.
The new stimulus bill signed into law contains greater protections than we have ever had, though, and I’m first starting to read through them. We all owe tremendous thanks to those in Congress who have understood and responded to our repeated calls for greater protections. Yes, there is more that needs to be done, but let’s pause for a minute to say thank you for what they’ve already done. Especial thanks from this blogger to Rep. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, who has been so involved in trying to improve protections.