Google to index medical records!

[Mike]

SAN FRANCISCO - Google Inc. will begin storing the medical records of a few thousand people as it tests a long-awaited health service that's likely to raise more concerns about the volume of sensitive information entrusted to the Internet search leader.
The pilot project to be announced Thursday will involve 1,500 to 10,000 patients at the Cleveland Clinic who volunteered to an electronic transfer of their personal health records so they can be retrieved through Google's new service, which won't be open to the general public.

Each health profile, including information about prescriptions, allergies and medical histories, will be protected by a password that's also required to use other Google services such as e-mail and personalized search tools.

Google views its expansion into health records management as a logical extension because its search engine already processes millions of requests from people trying to find about more information about an injury, illness or recommended treatment.

Source & Full Article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080221/ap_on_hi_te/google_health
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This is a privacy disaster of epic proportions!

M.

 

[Kenny]

This may benefit a select few, but imo it is a huge infringment to general privacy. :td:

Thanks for sharing that, Mike.

 

[christian_1983]

google is going to rule the world..not but pretty close if things keep going like this with all this spy...um...information technology they are acquiring. Look at google earth that is one step away from the thought police.

 

[viciouscircle]

The pilot project to be announced Thursday will involve 1,500 to 10,000 patients at the Cleveland Clinic who volunteered to an electronic transfer of their personal health records so they can be retrieved through Google's new service, which won't be open to the general public.

As long as this remains the case, I hardly see the problem. Where is the privacy disaster in a person making a decision about what can be done with their medical info. I would completely agree with there being a problem if participation was in some way coerced, be it by government, Google, or health professionals; but I see no problem with voluntary use of a service like this by those who have weighed the potential risks and benefits and have determined that, at least in their own opinions, the benefits of the service outweigh the risks.

 

[Mike]

The privacy disaster already exists. For an experienced user/programmer/hacker who's familiar with the way Google indexes/archives and uses it's algo, you can virtually find anything about anyone, provided that your target person has been on the net and has conducted a transaction.
Social Security Numbers, Credit Card Details, Confidential Documents, etc.
While Google may assure that the Medical Records will be shielded to the public, it's only a question of time until someone hacks their servers, deposits a virus, finds a way to get information from their servers, etc.
Bottom line, the way Google is influencing and infiltrating our lives is taking on scary proportions.
Also, Google is a profit driven corporation that has to answer to share holders, obviously, archives of Medical Records cannot be monetized or can they?
Would be interesting to see what's in store for the "volunteers" in the long run. When they access their medical records online, they'll get served targeted ads to their ailment?

M.

 

[viciouscircle]

...and they made the CHOICE to subject themselves to that. I personally would not choose to have my medical information put into Google's system, however I can understand someone who, after considering the implications, decides that the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks.

The simple fact is that almost everything Google offers access to is put there by someone else. An experienced reader/walker/driver/US resident can usually walk down to their local courthouse and access similar information (SSNs, names, birthdates, current and previous addresses, etc) by simply looking at land records and criminal or civil case files; AKA: public records. Sure, someone could hack the google servers, deposit a virus and steal medical information. Of course, someone could also break into a doctor's office and steal medical information. The world could end tomorrow in a deluge of burning radioactive puppies falling from space. There ARE risks AND benefits associated with EVERYTHING. People have the responsibility to weigh the risks and benefits of an action and make decisions based on the conclusions they come to. Short of some sort of coercion requiring YOU to give Google access to your medical records against your desires or Google failing to hold to their end of the agreement they enter into with those who participate in the program, there is nothing wrong with what they're doing.

 

[Jake]

google is going to rule the world..not but pretty close if things keep going like this with all this spy...um...information technology they are acquiring. Look at google earth that is one step away from the thought police.

I dont know that I would say it exactly like this, but I have to somewhat agree :/

 

[RickM]

Am I missing something?

Google encrypts all data so that it requires your password to view it. They dont have your password as that is also encrypted.

Only you can view your own med records....so whats the problem?

Plus, its opt in.....if you don't like it, don't use it.....but dont moan at the same time

 

[Phio]

Very Interesting. What is the world coming to? Yes there are many +s and -s. I spent a few years in a high level position with the largest Health Care Provider in the U.S. and managed several groups in the development of a Complete Healthcare System. Needless to say we spent billions on the system and it enables patient chart tracking systems and medical records to be viewed instantly from any hospital in the US. In the old days charts were shipped by mail or fax from one hospital to another. All of the systems had to be designed and coded with many things in mind, including security, and HIPAA compliance. These privacy and security standards will need to be followed by google also, otherwise they will be breaking the law, and current HIPAA regulations. In a nutshell the data cannot be accessed from outside the United States and any data that is transmitted say to India offshore programmers will need to be encrypted for processing so that no real data is exposed to outsiders. Since google is a corporation that is being used throughout the world it will have to follow the legal requirements for each country it wants to host medical records in. What's more interesting about this is that google is positioning itself to be what we who were in the Health Industry term as 'The System of Record' for a nationalized US healthcare system...which may be right around the corner. The implications and profitability for google, are making me take another look at their stock.