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Electronic medical records a privacy issue: Canadians support idea
NATIONAL POST
November 14, 2006
by Vito Pilieci
A majority of Canadians support the idea of making all medical files electronic -- as long as there are ways to ensure the data is kept secure,
says a policy advisor for Health Canada.
"Electronic health records hold a lot of promise in the minds of Canadians," Mary Lysyk told an electronic health information and
privacy conference yesterday. The meeting brought together government representatives and experts on the issue in the private sector.
Ms. Lysyk has been combing through five years' worth of data detailing Canadians' thoughts about having their medical records made
electronic and shared between their doctor and local hospital.
She said more than 65% of Canadians support the idea of having their medical records made electronic. But a vast majority want privacy
laws beefed up so those files don't fall into the wrong hands.
She said more than 65% of Canadians also believe their privacy in general is eroding and about 54% are concerned their medical
records may be accessed by hackers or other people with malicious intentions.
"We still have public trust," Ms Lysyk said. "But trust is not a renewable resource -- once it is lost it may not be regained."
Conference participants discussed ways to create a network of health providers who all have access to a patient's electronic health record.
One possible approach being considered in the United States is implantable microchips. The chips can be injected into a person's
upper shoulder and used as identification to give doctors and hospitals instant access to a patient's records.
In the U.S., 1,100 physicians in more than 250 hospitals have access to scanners that can pull up a patient's medical history.
As of March, only about 100 people had opted to have the chips implanted.
The chips in use in the U.S. are made by a company called VeriChip Corp.
He said while there are many uses for the chips -- including inventory and stocking purposes envisioned by Wal-Mart
Stores Inc. -- they aren't ready for health care yet. One problem is that information isn't encrypted on the current microchips,
which are about the size of a grain of rice.
Prof. Kerr said readers for the chips can be bought at electronic shops for less than $100. Once a person has the information
from the chips, it can be duplicated and used in a malicious fashion.
There are also regulatory hurdles to face, he said. The chips are not recognized as medical devices, which could pose legal issues.
Doctors may not want to implant them and medical plans may not want to pay for them.
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