Re:Google AI has access to huge haul of NHS patient data
by Silhouette on Monday May 02, 2016 @02:18PM
(#11613979)
Whenever I visit the doctor and I am given a form asking if my data can be sent to some group to participate in a study, I always answer yes. Never once have I had any negative repercussions from doing so
And that's your choice. Unfortunately, someone else committed suicide because they didn't ask for the help they needed for their mental health issues because of justified concern that their condition would leak and it would lead to discrimination.
There are many reasons privacy is important. Among the most important is the ability to have completely open discussions with clinical professionals about any medical issues you have, without having to worry that anyone has any ulterior motives or that anything you say could come back to haunt you later.
It is difficult enough for some people to talk about some conditions even with their own doctor in the privacy of the doctor's office. Probably some valuable benefits would result if we dropped privacy altogether and allowed widespread analysis of clinical data. However, it is an absolute certainty that serious damage is done both when patient confidentiality is perceived to be threatened (through patients not raising issues in the first place) and when patient confidentiality is in fact compromised (through discrimination of various kinds, much of which may be based on misconceptions).
And that's your choice. Unfortunately, someone else committed suicide because they didn't ask for the help they needed for their mental health issues because of justified concern that their condition would leak and it would lead to discrimination.
There are many reasons privacy is important. Among the most important is the ability to have completely open discussions with clinical professionals about any medical issues you have, without having to worry that anyone has any ulterior motives or that anything you say could come back to haunt you later.
It is difficult enough for some people to talk about some conditions even with their own doctor in the privacy of the doctor's office. Probably some valuable benefits would result if we dropped privacy altogether and allowed widespread analysis of clinical data. However, it is an absolute certainty that serious damage is done both when patient confidentiality is perceived to be threatened (through patients not raising issues in the first place) and when patient confidentiality is in fact compromised (through discrimination of various kinds, much of which may be based on misconceptions).