From the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, this media release: The Australian Privacy Commissioner, Karen Curtis, has today issued new privacy guidance materials for medical practitioners and other health service providers and the public. “The new guidance materials are the culmination of an extensive consultation process by my Office, and offer health care professionals and…
Author: Dissent
Adoptees would have more access to health history under proposed Michigan bill
Tim Martin of the Associated Press writes: Some adopted children would be able to get information about their biological family’s medical history and possibly copies of their original birth certificates when they become adults under bills that soon could be voted on in the Michigan House. Rep. Lisa Wojno, a Democrat from Warren and sponsor…
New Ways To Manage Health Data
Michael S. Gerber writes in the Washington Post: You already bank online and use computer software to do your taxes. So why don’t you trust technology to help you manage your health? Microsoft, Google and more than 100 Web sites offering personal health records know the answer, but they’re betting they can quell your fears…
FTC to Host Workshop on Innovations in Health Care Delivery
From the FTC: The Federal Trade Commission will host a workshop on April 24, 2008, to examine recent trends related to health care delivery. This workshop will bring together representatives of physician and healthcare associations, industry, privacy groups, academia, federal and state government, and other experts. The workshop participants will engage in several panel discussions…
Michigan: improper disposal of medical waste and medical records
Korie Wilkins of Freep writes: Officials are investigating the improper disposal of fetal matter, bloody surgical pads and medical records in a Dumpster outside a Lathrup Village abortion clinic. The medical waste was removed from the Dumpster outside the WomanCare clinic on Southfield Road by a licensed hazardous waste hauler, said Sgt. Vincent Lynch of…
Grim outlook for Congress passing health legislation in 2008?
Today’s Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report has a piece, Roll Call Examines Prospects for Health Care Legislation This Year in Congress. Not surprisingly to me, you have to go all the way down to the very last statement in the piece before you find any mention of privacy: Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.): Failure in the…