Opt out period for national electronic health database begins

[Vero]

It appears “My health record” offers 3 months period for us to adjust preferences to who will have access to our medical data.

there could be some ad campaign about it on tv, but I have not switched it on for a while. I have noticed short article about it in the press. I am posting about this here as there maybe many people like myself who periodically do not monitor or deliberately avoid news

I don’t have many details about it yet. It maybe a good idea to check this federal gov initiative.

[PamelaR]

Hello all

Great discussion going on here about the Australian MyHR. Thank you for starting it Vero.

Like EllieC, I too have a background in government recordkeeping. While on the surface I had initially thought about the positives of such a system - we are in an electronic / digital era where all our information is stored electronically, it does seem rather backward to have to fax paper work through. Though I do think it can be scanned to pdf and sent in an email.

In theory i agree with having a system that manages the information so it's readily available, when, where it's needed. It makes sense for my health care. However, it's the actual security of the system that concerns me.

My husband went to the doctor this week and came back with the - website address for myhealthrecord and the Australian Privacy Foundation. Our doctor in no way supports the system - his major concern is reliability, security, accessibility and privacy. His view is - it is hackable (more easily that any other government system). Also, during the week there has been further reports along this line.

So we have both opted out for the time being.

Kind regards

PamelaR

[quirkywords]

5hanks for everyone’ s inout.the cynic in me says that there is already heaps of information on all of us and if we do opt out how do we know that there is some mistake and our information is available anyway.

If we don’t trust the govt enough with our records how can we trust them not to use it.

remember that number we could ring so we did not have unsolicited phone calls. well it didn’t work, I still got calls. just saying.

Quirky

[Just Sara]

Hi Vero and thanks for this thread;

I've spent 30 yrs in state govt where all dept's used to be separate. Even if they were down the hall from each other, they couldn't access information about clients without consent.

These days, all state/federal govt departments are linked and have access to all sorts of info just by clicking a button. Medical info access for medico's makes sense, but when you consider Centrelink assessors for instance, who're doing their utmost to avoid approving people for MH disability benefits, they'd absolutely abuse this system in a heartbeat.

I can see HR dept's using it to refuse job applications or promotions too. They can now access HR files from positions in any govt dept people worked in as far back as they want. This was illegal up until a few yrs ago. I know this because reading my compo insurance interview with my manager, I saw he'd disclosed info from my govt position 20 yrs before! The assessor wrote in his report he didn't need to know this and seemed the manager was trying to discredit me.

I came across an email on my P-File where HR and managers were discussing a prior injury I'd disclosed looking for ways to get rid of me; it was disgusting what was said.

I've been registered on the Health Records site for a yr and it's still empty. Like any data base, info has to be entered manually, so finding time for Dr's and their staff to focus on data entry for that many people using hard copy files going back decades is a long stretch.

These so-called shortcuts are said to increase info access times etc, but honestly, how far are people going to take this (screw hard work!) attitude?

I love my hard copy file which my GP (and psych's btw) let me go thru if I ask. This keeps them using terms that don't insult or include opinion. I once snuck a look at a file when I was pregnant and nearly had a fit from the disrespectful language used by my Gyno'. Never saw him again after telling him to change what he'd written.

My last point? What if that database contains false or misleading information?

I'll be talking with my GP about this soon.

Sez

[Dniaiu]

I feel that I have to correct the following statement :

"Like any data base, info has to be entered manually, so finding time for Dr's and their staff to focus on data entry for that many people using hard copy files going back decades is a long stretch."

My entire IT career was as a database specialist, and only a tiny percentage of data is entered manually. Interfaces to other systems have been around for ever, and systems can and do harvest information which is just passing by.

For example, you pay your CTP, and minutes later the RMS says it's ok to register the car - there's no humans manually entering the data into either the insurer's or the RMS's databases.

Already, there have been cases of health apps on phones forwarding personal info to lawyers and insurers, resulting in the govt.

Even if you consider paper records, high-volume scanners linked to optical character recognition has also been around for ages.

A few days ago (20-Jul-2018) hackers stole health info on 1.5 million people from the Singapore national health database. Do you think that they might have been promised that their database was secure??

[Just Sara]

Hi Dniaiu;

I stand corrected. Info isn't always manually entered.

Personal info at my GP, psychiatrist and psychologist is in hard copy files except medication. What I meant was, 'they' would have to do it manually if I give consent. They wouldn't dare without asking me first either because I'd let them have it with both barrels.

I've tried accessing 'my' info at our hospital and had to jump thru hoops to get it. I had to know every detail of when, who, how and why before they'd touch their computer. It was overwhelming with my damaged mind to consider so I ended up not getting it. Why isn't it in my Health Record on MyGov to access now?

Hacking's been around forever too so I'm not surprised at the recent situation. However, it's not until events like this occur that the media report it and people sit up and take notice like it's only a new thing. The Health Record database has been around for yrs; as I said, mine's been empty since I registered.

It's a shame you only focused on the above discrepancy as my point was about inter-agency 'abuses' and lack of privacy re govt control. This wasn't to undermine or ignore what's been commented on in this thread. It was an added issue that's important to me.

Information's power, so whoever wants the upper hand for whatever reason, will hack into any database, not just this one. It's the internal use and abuse of information that's my personal concern due to previous experience.

It's about the next time anyone applies for a job and doesn't want the prospective employer knowing they have MH issues. That's the individual's right to disclose or not. Yet...it happens. In my opinion, this is pseudo-legal hacking.

There's got to be a paper trail of consent and application to gain access to info. Without this, even the Prime Minister's at risk. I'm sure he'd jump at the chance to give an interview over something that's been stolen from a 'secure' database...NOT! He's no different to me in this instance.

With paper, there's only one copy. Online there's millions!

Sez

[geoff]

There has been much said and how true it is because at Centrelink no one who knows you is forbidden to access your file, but it doesn't stop a friend of someone you know access your information and then pass it on down at the pub.

Anything stored on the database will undoubtedly be hacked into, that's a challenge for any IT specialist, and I know when some passes away the insurance company will go looking, searching for anything that you haven't disclosed to them when taking out the policy.

Even if you change doctors from one clinic to another one, access to records can be done, I don't trust it at all.

The only privacy remains within yourself.

Geoff.

[EllieC]

Hi all

I noted on the news this morning that some of the concerns that we (and many others apparently!) have expressed have been listened to by the gov and they are now changing the legislation to require a court order for other government agencies to access your MyHR - this is somewhat reassuring, although I would like to know more about under which circumstances a court order would be granted.

Under the current legislation, commercial businesses like insurance companies do NOT have access to MyHR... but I think it would be far too easy for them to slip a cheeky amendment into the legislation to change that without the general public noticing.

By the way Paul, I believe the second part of todays legislation changes means that you can opt out at any stage and have all information on your record wiped - so if you're feeling a bit of buyers remorse about signing up already, deleting the record will be an option. Personally I'm still holding out to make my decision closer to the date.

Ellie

[geoff]

Hi EllieC, if an insurance company can get a court order then the whole system breaks down because wouldn't it be better for them to spend $10,000 rather than to pay out $400,000 if they had accepted your policy but had a few questions in doubt, then what's the point of having 'My health record opt out'.

No one should be able to gain access to your record.

I believe it's possible to have all your files deleted at some stage, so if you have opted out like I have, then it would be inconceivable and too expensive for any insurance company to try and obtain your records through court now.

If you feel strongly about this, then write to your Federal Member.

Geoff.

[EllieC]

Hi Geoff

Without meaning to alarm you, if you've signed up for life insurance you almost certainly have already given them permission to access your health records. Usually when you sign up there is a mandatory clause you sign to say that you authorise release of these records to the insurer at their discretion.

So if you don't have a MyHR they cannot access that obviously, but certainly they can submit a written request to any hospital/your GP/specialist you have attended to be given relevant information from your files at those facilities.

Moral of the story: if you're going to lie about your medical history, you have to lie to everyone. They compare notes.

In all seriousness though, I guess what I'm getting at is that I think maybe this public conscientiousness about MyHR is a good impetus to have a look into when the rest of your information is and isn't private. Some of the concerns people have raised in the media about MyHR are things that already happen with your existing health records under current legislation.

[Just Sara]

Thankyou so much Ellie;

Your posts have enlightened and reassured me that a public outcry can work. Policy can be a quagmire especially when it comes to keeping UTD with amendments, so the info you've provided is invaluable.

Like many on BB, I don't like to watch the news as it can trigger. I get snippets here and there about issues that affect me or my family, but usually steer clear of upsetting topics.

I see you've only been on board as an active member for a short while, so I'd like to welcome you with open arms to our BB community. I hope your experience here has been pleasant and supportive.

Kind thoughts;

Sez