Keeping Medical Records Private

Re “Keep Your Health History Private,” Commentary, Aug. 20: In this era of truth in labeling, A.G. Breitenstein and Denise M. Nagel have issued an important warning about the so-called “fair information practices” proposal soon to be presented to Congress. Having followed the discussions about mandatory computerization of medical records, I have come to share their alarm about its effect on the time-honored confidentiality of the doctor-patient relationship.

In my psychoanalytic practice, before I release any information to a third party, I have the patient read whatever is to be released and inform him or her that, when this information leaves my hands, neither of us will have any further control over it. Had there been a national health care databank in the ‘70s, Richard Nixon would have had no need to hire the “plumbers” to burglarize Daniel Ellsberg’s psychiatrist’s office to seek information which might discredit him.

Despite “assurances” about confidentiality, personal information in a national health care databank will be available to be exploited for commercial or governmental purposes without the approval of its owners, the doctor and the patient. There are ways to protect such data and to permit the patient to maintain control over who may see this intimate information; these must be written into any legislation.

RICHARD P. FOX MD

Member, Steering Committee

Coalition for Patient Rights

Tustin