Concomitantly, the patient should also be kept informed of such actions, as it directly affects his or her confidentiality status. The physician should then advise the patient regarding the necessary actions or allowance to be made for the destruction of the records.
6. As mentioned above, it is absolutely vital to identify individuals and organizations with access to the databases containing his or her medical records. The reason for this is again for the purpose of informed consent. The physician should also be informed of such individuals or organizations. The patient is then given full power to provide or withhold consent in concomitance with advice from the physician.
7. The AMA ethics opinion mentions encryption, along with several other measures, to ensure the security of medical records from unauthorized access. Other forms of access control include passwords and scannable badges. This ensures the confidentiality of patient records and protection from outside parties, including hackers or other entities without the informed consent of both the physician and the patient.
The AMA ethics opinion very strongly promotes the security of patient records, stating that the most stringent possible security procedures should be implemented to prevent unauthorized access. The ethics document also states that audit procedures should be in place to create records of any unauthorized disclosure or access to medical data. Furthermore, if employees working with the databases are terminated or leave the employer, their access to medical records should be terminated at once.
In conclusion, the physician-patient confidentiality is one of the nearly sacred rights that a patient may rely upon. AMA guidelines in this regard should therefore never be disregarded or taken in anything but the most serious light.
Sources
American Medical Association (1995-2008). E-5.07 Confidentiality Computers. http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/8360.html
American Medical Association (1995-2008). E-5.059 Privacy in the Context of Health Care. http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/11988.html
American Medical Association (1995-2008). E-7.02 Records of Physicians Information and Patients. http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/8378.html
American Medical Association (1995-2008). E-10.01 Fundamental Elements of the Patient-Physician Relationship. http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/8313.html
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