A concerned reader from Canada sent me this commentary with permission to post it: Alberta¹’s legislature has introduced amendments to the Public Health Act that allow the province’s Chief Medical Officer to release personal medical information to the government of a foreign country or an agency of any of those governments for a range of…
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USA Today editorial point and counterpoint
In USA Today: Our view on technology: Don’t sacrifice privacy when digitizing medical records and Opposing view: Balance privacy with benefits by Mary R. Grealy, president of the Healthcare Leadership Council.
JP: Pharmacists to quiz customers over dementia
The Japan Pharmaceutical Association plans to ask member pharmacies across the nation to inform local support centers when customers exhibit signs of dementia. Nationwide, there are now over two million people with dementia. The association hopes its scheme will help identify those with dementia in its early stages and allow for prompt treatment. The project,…
Drug clinic's files
Lance Williams reports: On Berkeley’s Holy Hill, a seminarian at the Pacific School of Religion inquires about steroids to control her weight. Despite stomach bypass surgery, she’s up to 310 pounds, she says. The Chronicle has withheld customers’ names out of privacy concerns. In Orlando, a 38-year-old contractor suffers from erectile dysfunction, a side effect…
Privacy Trumps Profit in Obama’s $19 Billion Health Stimulus
Nicole Gaouette reports: Patients’ advocates claimed victory in a battle over the privacy of health records as the U.S. Congress prepares to vote on the economic stimulus bill, which contains $19 billion for health-care information. U.S. House and Senate negotiators’ compromise reflects stricter standards that privacy advocates wanted for marketing, selling and disclosing health data….
Deal leaves money, language on health IT mostly intact
Andrew Noyes reports: The compromise stimulus deal leaves much of each chamber’s proposed funding for health information technology intact, according to an overview circulated by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday and a preliminary summary of the compromise that was subject to change. […] The package would also expand federal privacy and security protections for…