Essay on Internet - Ethics of Online Medical Records

The Ethics of Online Medical Records Abstract: This paper describes the ethical implications of developing a national online medical database. Such a database would contain the lifetime health records of every U.S. resident by combining information from a variety of sources. The advantages of such a system are many, but in the end, the question remains whether patients want to trade privacy for better healthcare. A lonely ninety-year-old Chinese woman walks into a clinic. Without any medical records, the physicians diagnose her with stroke, and she is immediately hospitalized. Two days later, her son arrives at the hospital, apparently quite angry with the doctors. He informs the physicians that her mother has†¦show more content†¦Today, the medical records of most Americans are scattered across multiple clinics and hospitals, possibly across several states. The task of piecing together a patients medical history can become quite time-consuming and laborious, as the files first need to be located and then faxed [5]. The possibility of combining medical records into a central medical database would solve many of these problems, as well as bring new benefits. With a shared medical database, doctors would have vital information about a patient at their fingertips. Very little time would be lost in looking for a patients medical records and piecing the data together. A shared medical database would save lives by providing accurate and complete information to doctors, especially those not familiar with their patients. For instance, if a person had a serious accident while vacationing in a different state, the doctors there would have instant access to his medical records in his home state. Locating the patients family doctor and faxing the patients medical history would be unnecessary. If the patient has allergies to certain drugs, the doctors would be aware of it, thus avoiding further complications [6]. With more complete information, doctors would be given the power to treat an unfamiliar, out-of-state patients in a timely and effective manner. Sharing medical data would also enormously benefit organizationsShow MoreRelatedThe Ethical Substance Of An Action1685 Words   |  7 Pagesand government agencies use the AHIMA Code of Ethics as a frame of reference. The AHIMA Code of Ethics echoes the commitment of all to endorse the profession s values and to act ethically. Individuals of good character and through their good faith can determine what the moral questions are and seek to make dependable ethical judgments that must have within them the ethical principles to practice and apply. 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