WikiLeaks

With the recent rash of confidential records being broadcast on the world wide web through WikiLeaks, anyone in favor of electronic medical records (EMR), has to be having second thoughts. What if my medical records were released without my consent or knowledge?

Each day, people visit me in the office to seek professional and often, personal medical advice. The range of issues may vary from trivial to very personal. Of course, they remain a part of the patient’s private medical record. In the olden days this meant a hand written chart note that only the physician knew and recorded. Now days, it means no less than a small army of the physician’s personal staff.

This staff is compiled of no less than the patient’s insurance company, the physician’s nurse, his transcriptionist, his receptionist, and his medical coder.  Forget about privacy. That went out the window a long time ago. And it’s information that I need to place in the file in case any portion of it becomes a part of a legal issue in the future.

Now enter the age (ObamaCare) where these same records are now accessable to the federal government BY LAW through the world wide web. Now try running for political office against the ruling party. See how long it takes before your brush with a sexually transmitted disease is broadcast all over the world instantaneously.

Perhaps as patients, we should be asking that our medical records be recorded only the old fashion way–with a pen and paper. Think about that and let me know how you feel.