GAO Summarizes Report on Privacy Needs for Health Records

In January 2007, the Government Accountability Office issued a report on the federal government's lack of an overall privacy framework for a national health information infrastructure. They summarized the report in a one-pager this morning. In summary, the following challenges were recognized:

1. Resolve legal / policy issues


2. Ensure appropriate disclosure


3. Enable an individual's right to access / amend health record


4. Integrate security measures for electronic health information

DNA Testing + Genealogies + Internet = Huh?

According to a press release, Ancestry.com is teaming up Sorenson Genomics, so that people can add the results of various genetic tests to their online family tree websites. I don't want to scream fire in a movie theater, especially since I don't know what the "DNA results" will correspond to, but at the same time, you have to wonder where the oversight is, who will have access to this information, if full-family consent will be necessary, ... the questions are endless.

Read a blurb on the release here.

Google Supporting Public Records

The AP is reporting that several states (including California) are opening their doors to let Google archive and support search over public their records.

Federal Health IT Advisor Quits Over Privacy

Though not a critical blow, the resignation of Paul Feldman is clearly an indication that the definition and integration of privacy policies in the coming national healthcare infrastructure are lacking.

FBI Losing Laptops....And Firearms?

CNN is reporting that the FBI has admitted to losing laptops with classified, as well as identifying, information. Now, there's no proof that the information in these laptops was, or can be, accessed by the culprits. However, the same can not be said for the stolen firearms...

Department of Homeland Security and Biometric Data Sharing

From Government Computer News
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) believe that governments and companies need to share biometric data internationally to assist in anti-terrorism. Privacy advocates and biometrics professionals feel are pushing back given the current state of privacy controls, policies, and lack of international oversight.

Unfortunately, this issue has played out in the ethical, as opposed to the technical (or better yet - a combination of the two), aspects. The DHS views this as a "We already have the technology to capture and share the information, so why shouldn't we?" Yet, a more helpful way to phrase the problem might be "How can we share biometric data to achieve surveillance and anti-terrorism goals without compromising the privacy of the majority of those who's data is surveilled?"

Markle Follows up on GAO's Criticism of DHHS

The Markle Foundation wants privacy policies in place before technology decisions regarding the future of healthcare IT are set.