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Encryption would sharply reduce the risk of damage from any loss of data, and widespread use could discourage thieves from trying to access healthcare information, says Brad Rostolsky, JD, an associate with the law firm of Reed Smith in Philadelphia who has worked with healthcare providers to ensure data security. Rostolsky acknowledges that encryption can be costly for a large organization.
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Continuing reports of security breaches resulting in the loss of sensitive patient data show the weaknesses of some healthcare organizations, and some experts say criminals are targeting healthcare for cyber attacks.
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An autopsy determined that Anna Brown's death in a jail cell in September 2012 was caused by blood clots that formed in her legs and migrated to her lungs, according to authorities in St. Louis, MO. Police say Brown went to three hospitals complaining of leg pain in the days leading up to her death, including her visit to St. Mary's Health Center that led to her arrest for trespassing.
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Some employers are taking advantage of people's tendency to post explicit and sometimes disparaging information about themselves on Facebook and other media by demanding access to those sites before hiring. After incidents in which patient information was posted on Facebook, some healthcare providers might consider monitoring employee sites on an ongoing basis.
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The Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues (PCSBI) has made these 12 recommendations for how to better develop public trust and protect privacy in the era of whole genome sequencing in research:
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Research institutions should make their complaint process as accessible as possible to researchers, participants, and others, an expert says.
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More subject diversity is needed in clinical trials to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes, according to the keynote speaker at the Clinical Trials in Georgia conference.
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Whole genome sequencing research raises important informed consent issues for IRBs and investigators, and the recent report by the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues (PCSBI) addresses these in its recommendations.
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Human research protection programs (HRPPs) often must balance the need to handle research complaints with the goal of conducting fair and reasonable investigations into any potential problem. HRPPs also must use staff time efficiently and not get bogged down in disputes that clearly are not pertinent to protecting research subjects, an expert says.
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Medical and electronic data advances in the 21st century have made it possible to determine the entire DNA sequence of any individual on the planet. The first question that many bioethicists ask is, "How do you protect individuals' privacy from the misuse or unauthorized use of this information?"
