Be Vigilant with Patient and Prescribing Information, AMA tells Doctors, Australia

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 21 Jan 2005 - 11:00 PDT

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AMA (Australian Medical Association) Vice President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said today the AMA has advised doctors to check contracts with their software providers.

The advice follows media reports that suggest software company, Health Communication Network, has been accessing the de-identified patient records of some GPs and selling the information to commercial organisations without the doctors' knowledge or permission.

Dr Haikerwal said the AMA is concerned about privacy issues for patients and doctors and the impact that the practice could have on the confidentiality of the doctor-patient relationship.

"The AMA is opposed to patient information and doctors' prescribing habits being on-sold for profit," Dr Haikerwal said.

"Many doctors would not be aware that their de-identified patient information is being used for commercial purposes.

"Patients should be made aware by their doctor if their data is used for clinical research in a de-identified form, and also that it may be on-sold for commercial purposes. Patients must have the opportunity to say they don't want their information used for data collection.

"GPs should also check their contracts with their software suppliers to confirm that patient information is being totally de-identified and to check exactly what this information is being used for.

"Allegations of on selling patient information for commercial purposes must be fully investigated by the Privacy Commission," Dr Haikerwal said.

CONTACT:
Judith Tokley
(02) 6270 5471 / (0408) 824 306
Australian Medical Association - Media Release

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