Meanwhile, back in the U.K., BBC reports confidential patient records wer An investigation has been launched into how confidential medical records were found in a garden in Londonderry. The Western Health Trust has confirmed that the documents contained “sensitive personal information” and said it had reported the breach to the Information Commissioner’s office. The trust…
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Psychiatrists will refuse to take part in compulsory assessment abortion
Political hot potato: Irish psychiatrists have said they will not participate in any compulsory assessment of pregnant women who have suicidal ideation and are seeking an abortion. The College of Psychiatrists in Ireland said today its members will not be the country’s “social police”. Good for them! Read more on RTÉ News
Obama taking executive action on guns after Senate fails to; HHS also takes steps
Associated Press reports: Blocked by Congress from expanding gun sale background checks, President Obama is turning to actions within his own power to keep people from buying a gun who are prohibited for mental health reasons. Federal law bans certain mentally ill people from purchasing firearms, but not all states are providing data to stop…
Amherst man’s gun permit reinstated; case raises questions about police access to medical records
There was a story from upstate New York that didn’t get my attention when I first read about it. A man was ordered to turn in his guns under New York’s new SAFE Act, allegedly because he had taken anti-anxiety medication and his mental health history made him a danger to himself or others. His…
HeLa again at the frontier of medical privacy
I was just reading a fascinating piece that made me aware of a book and case I need to be more informed about: On Twitter I was discussing the latest insult to the family of Henrietta Lacks, the woman whose cancer cells are still an important laboratory tool long after her death. The ethics here are…
Lawmaker Slams Veterans Administration for 'Big Brother' Surveillance
Bryant Jordan reports: The chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee has filed legislation requiring Department of Veterans Affairs’ hospital personnel to have the consent of a patient or other authorized party before setting up surveillance cameras in the veteran’s room. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., said in a statement Thursday his “Veterans Privacy Act” is…