NHS open data plans 'death of privacy'

http://ow.ly/7QvAi

This is an article by Rebecca Todd posted on the ehi.co.uk website, E-Health Insider.

This article discusses plans that the UK has to implement a data sharing system that will allow certain NHS records to be shared with commercial companies.

The article states, "Privacy groups say a government plan to share anonymised NHS data with commercial companies will herald the “death of patient confidentiality”."

The article further states, "...Roger Goss from Patient concern said the government plan would mean the “death of patient confidentiality”.

“There is no guarantee that information will be anonymised; in any case, anonymised data can just as easily be re-identified.

“We understand GP surgeries will have the right to refuse to release their patients’ records, but whether patients will ever be told what is happening, let alone have the choice to protect their privacy, is still unclear.”"