The Congress is on the threshold of extending the benefits of computerized medical records systems, by way of a Health-IT-Legislation, which will save the day for many patients, like those afflicted by health problems post hurricane Katrina, who had to face an additional misfortune of losing their medical records.
The proposed legislation that will allow the computerization of records is facing stiff opposition from privacy advocates, consumer groups and civil libertarians who are making no bones about probable security lapses that could portend a threat to millions of personal information.Privacy advocates second the need for better protection of these medical records. Dr. Deborah Peel, a psychiatrist who heads the Patient Privacy Rights Foundation in Austin said, 'The main thing we are concerned about is that if this information leaks out to employers, it can destroy people's reputations and livelihoods.'
The Bush administration is all for this legislation, which according to them is already well protected.
