My Health Record

kmakm
kmakm Member Posts: 7,974
edited July 2018 in General discussion
OK good folk of the forum, what do you think?

As people with a complex health issue, with multiple specialists, this is something that directly impacts us, and could benefit us greatly (memory issues anyone?!).

However there's privacy issues (any government department can access it without your knowledge), identity theft, insurance denial, employment issues etc.

I just asked my GP about it today and she is officially undecided. She said get back to me on that one, the practice is having a meeting about it tomorrow!

To opt out or not, that is the question. Would love to hear your thoughts.
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Comments

  • Sister
    Sister Member Posts: 4,960
    Still considering the pros and cons. For the kids as well as for me.  I'm not sure, as far as I'm concerned, what anyone would have to gain from hacking my records unless it was to change anything with malicious mischief in mind.
  • Zoffiel
    Zoffiel Member Posts: 3,372

    I've been listening to Tony Bartone, president of the AMA, defending it at the National Press Club. Not very convincing, I'm afraid. He went down the rabbit hole for me when it became all about how inconvenient it was for doctors to go to nursing homes (which are getting further and further out in suburbia) and not be able to access records or use their system and then having to go back to their offices and write up notes and fax scripts and waste their valuable time, etc etc....you get the picture.

    He has a point but it did nothing to sell the idea to me as the focus was on the wrong end of the equation--patients concerns come last, it seems. Again. The journos gave him a grilling about why he felt it was his position to defend the system, particularly in light of current concerns about security. Those who say that all the information is available to those who know how to find it are also missing the point. The thing that worries me is third parties being given pretty much unlimited licence--the suppliers of the aps for internet access, for example--to mine the data and how poorly that seems to have been thought out.

    I've been a walking health record for years, the bloody folder comes to all my appointments. It would be very convenient to be able to leave it at home and to trust that if I get hit by the proverbial bus, someone will be able to sort it all out. I'm holding off for the moment and have set a diary date with myself closer to the cut off time to make a decision. I'll probably not opt out, but it is frustrating to see the amount of sensationalism surrounding the whole debate. What is the fake news? Some if obviously is.

  • kmakm
    kmakm Member Posts: 7,974
    My current thinking is that I will opt out my children. They have no complex ongoing health issues, and being digital natives I am confident that they will make up their own minds as young adults with all the information that will be available to them at that time.

    I'm just not sure about myself.
  • Kiwi Angel
    Kiwi Angel Member Posts: 1,952

    I'm going to have to read up on this more - have only just really heard about it.

  • Flaneuse
    Flaneuse Member Posts: 899
    I've opted out on principle. There have been so many IT stuff-ups in this country (let's start with the census). Apart from that, even the federal health minister doesn't know how it's going to operate. Yes, (contrary to his beliefs) the police can demand access to it without a warrant, it seems. Is it accessible if you're overseas? They don't know yet. So many unanswered questions. 

    At my age, I care little who knows what about my health history; but for young people, it could be used against them for employment reasons, if it's not secure.
  • kmakm
    kmakm Member Posts: 7,974
    @Flaneuse That's how I feel at the moment. Section 70 says any part of the government can access it. And now the police can? Technically how it stands at the moment is they don't need a warrant! How is this right??
  • kmakm
    kmakm Member Posts: 7,974
    edited July 2018
    @Kiwi Angel Go to the ABC Radio website and listen to the stories on AM, The World Today and PM. They've been all over it for the last few days.
  • Afraser
    Afraser Member Posts: 4,352
    I'll probably not opt out but I might if I were younger, if half the world hadn't already got access to my medical records or (sorry, not my intention to alarm) if  I had mental health issues. I don't care if employers have access to my physical health records, given the unsolicited approaches I get my details would appear to be well and truly circulated. But while it might help
    medical practitioners to share information about my mental and emotional state, I would be concerned about any leakage elsewhere. That sort of info wouldn't be on offer until this scheme is well established and some evaluation available. 
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • Clouise
    Clouise Member Posts: 25
    I like the idea of everything being held centrally but for me too many unknowns about who will have access so I opted out at the weekend.  
  • Doin'it
    Doin'it Member Posts: 377
    Yep, I opted out. Even the tax department can have access. Don’t get that
  • Zoffiel
    Zoffiel Member Posts: 3,372
    Further to that, as someone who has been known to snatch folders and read notes while fending off indignant medicos, I've seen some stuff on my records which is of very dodgy quality. It worries me that some of that, which is occasionally poorly formulated opinions or wrong information rather than the medical facts, could become readily accessible information.
  • kezmusc
    kezmusc Member Posts: 1,544
    Hmmm....I will be opting out as well.  The govt and high tech has a tendency to have a lot of hiccups before it works even halfway like it's supposed to.    Plus, I just don't like it when they make things "opt out."  shouldn't it be opt in if you want it.  What happens to the people who don't even know they have to opt out or don't have a computer or are not tech savvy?  Plus I watched Snowden the other night..now I think..big brother is always watching LOL:smiley: