There’s generally more than one side to a story, and Michael Klozotsky points out that the media has contributed to what may be unfair attacks on Accretive Health. Worth a read.
Category: Uncategorized
Does auctioning off dried blood raise any privacy issues? (updated – auction cancelled)
Apart from the creepy factor, is there really anything illegal about selling a vial with the dried blood of a dead President? In November 2009, we saw a similar situation where the blood and brain material from Benito Mussolini were reportedly on sale on eBay. In that case, the auction site pulled the auction, stating…
NHS patients' health data to be anonymised and shared
Jo Best reports: The government has finally released the long-awaited NHS Information Strategy. The document, initially set for release last year, was launched on Monday and paves the way for the anonymisation and reuse of patient data. “Our electronic care records [are] becoming a core source of all professional information. These records are a rich…
California Considers DNA Privacy Law
Helen Shen and Nature magazine report: California lawmakers are weighing a bill aimed at protecting their state’s citizens from surreptitious genetic testing but scientists are voicing their growing concerns that, if passed, such a law would have a costly and damaging effect on research. The bill, dubbed the Genetic Information Privacy Act, would require an individual’s written consent for…
In letter to Franken, Accretive denies violating Emergency Medial Treatment and Labor Act
Melanie Evans reports: In comments to U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), Accretive Health rejected a recent report that suggested the healthcare billing and collection company violated emergency-room access, patient privacy and debt collection laws. Accretive’s 29-page comment letter (PDF) came in response to questions from the senator following a highly critical report from Minnesota’s attorney general on Accretive’s business practices….
Secret patient recordings – are they legal?
A piece from Dentistry.co.uk caught my eye this morning: Dentists are warned that the law offers little or no protection from patients covertly recording consultations. Patients are within their rights to record consultations and could use the information obtained to challenge their dentist’s actions. ‘Dentists would be cautioned against covertly recording patients’ The increasing use…