Fears over electronic records threat to confidentiality
A global poll of more than 200 patient organisations, including 50 in England, has revealed widespread concern that electronic medical records could put patient confidentiality at risk.
The survey showed that people who have experienced problems with stigmatisation, such as HIV or mental health patients, are especially worried about facing greater discrimination should the security of their details be compromised.
New electronic healthcare systems will allow doctors to access patient records from wherever they happen to be and the Health and Social Campaigners News International research found a general enthusiasm for the technology.
However, 64 per cent of campaigners in England expressed fears that patient confidentiality would be threatened by the move, while a third of groups said the technology was not yet sufficient to develop a comprehensive medical records system.
