Jared Reed reports: Medical groups say heavy fines for practices that breach regulations for the new unique health identifier legislation are unnecessary and will stop doctors using them in the first place. Contravening a minor regulation exposes practices of fines of up to $5,500 a time. The legislation, due for debate in the Senate next…
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Newborn DNA Registries Raise Privacy Concerns
I’ve included some news stories on DNA registries for newborns in the past, most recently involving a troubling situation in Texas. Here’s an overview of some of the controversies surrounding such databases, from Sarah McIntosh: Parents are expressing outrage after discovering through recent news reports that their newborns’ DNA has been stored or even turned…
Political Insider Delusions, the Legislature and an implanted microchip
Jim Galloway writes: We often say that insanity reigns at the state Capitol. But when we do, we do not literally accuse the people inside of letting their grip on reality slip. We simply mean that our ability to fathom their motives, or their ability to express them, has fallen short. Referring to a politician…
Rep. Susan Davis Recognizes Jay and Linda Foley for their Fight against ID Theft
Kudos to Linda and Jay for this well-deserved recognition: Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) recognized San Diegans Jay and Linda Foley, founders of the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), for their fight against identity theft. In a ceremony in the U.S. Capitol, the Foleys were presented with the Suzanne McDaniel Public Awareness Award by the…
Scientists work to keep hackers out of implanted medical devices
John Sutter reports: Nathanael Paul likes the convenience of the insulin pump that regulates his diabetes. It communicates with other gadgets wirelessly and adjusts his blood sugar levels automatically. But, a few years ago, the computer scientist started to worry about the security of this setup. What if someone hacked into that system and sent…
UK: Controversial medical records database suspended
Kate Devlin reports: The project triggered anger when it was revealed that information could have been logged on the system without patients’ knowledge. The British Medical Association (BMA) warned that many people were not even aware of the scheme, let alone the fact that they could ‘opt out’. In some cases letters informing patients of…