Posted by Matt Hawes on 03/10/10 11:56 AM   [Newer: Ron Paul Interview] [Older: Obama now targeting recreational fishing?]

Via the UK's Telegraph:

Those who do not wish to have their details on the £11 billion computer system are supposed to be able to opt out by informing health authorities.

But doctors have accused the Government of rushing the project through, meaning that patients have had their details uploaded to the database before they have had a chance to object....

At present 1.29 million people have had their details placed on the system. A further 8.9 million records are due to be added by June. By the end of next year, the NHS hopes to have more than 50 million uploaded.

The "summary" records contain basic medical information including illnesses, vaccination history, and could include medication patients have been given. Ages and addresses are also included....

I'm sure the British people received the exact same assurances from their government that their records and privacy would not be abused.  Let's keep this story handy to show to people as the health care debate continues to rage on in the U.S.

Read the rest.

Posted 03/10/10 1:13 PM smashysmashy dover, NH

Perhaps I am just young, naive, idealistic, and a little too know-it-all almost-PhD and not MD... But I think in the far majority of cases it is not necessary for Drs to know your whole medical history. Even if the intentions are truly good, I think this is an excuse to place a system where doctors can push every single vaccine, unnecessary quality-of-life Rx, and unnecessary procedure on us as possible. With our whole medical history nice and itemized, it will be very easy to push these unnecessary treatments on the unknowing. I believe only for very rare and devastating diseases that are hard to diagnose, is it really important to hand over your life medical history to your entrusted doctor. If I am unlucky enough to be in this situation, I will surely provide my dr with all of that information.

Posted 03/11/10 10:16 AM mlang52 Robinson, IL

I am an MD. I trust nothing on the Internet to be private! It is only matter of time before we read in MSM that someone has hacked the system, and what massive economic damage it has caused!

Posted 03/11/10 12:53 PM nurse emily San Jose, CA

There will be paparazzi hacking the site to find famous people's records. Also, lets say someone is poor and then they become famous suddenly. That person's health records will be accessed by all kinds of people before their lawyers can protect them. Let's say someone who may be mentally ill (or not) and commits a terrorist act. That person's health records will be on TMZ before the body is cold. I could go on and on but you get the idea.