Growth of online health records sparks privacy concerns

With providers such as the Cleveland Clinic rolling out new programs that offer Internet access to health records, patients seem to be torn between the convenience of having their personal information at their fingertips and fears about privacy and security (Source: “Online medical records offer convenience, may limit privacy,” USA Today, June 12, 2008).

There is even some concern among privacy advocates that patients may begin withholding sensitive medical information, such as contraction of a sexually transmitted disease or diagnosis of cancer, from their doctor because they worry that the electronic data may be compromised.