The Korean Society of Law and Medicine (의료법학)
- Volume 9 Issue 2
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- Pages.339-382
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- 2008
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- 1229-8069(pISSN)
Issues on the Patient's Information Protection
환자 의료정보 보호의 문제
- Jeong, Bu-Gyun (Samsung Medical Center, Manager Legal affairs part)
- 정부균 (삼성의료원 법무실)
- Published : 2008.12.31
Abstract
Medical information is one of significant private information that includes in-dividual's own diverse information. Once opened, it exposes one's health condition and medical history to a third party, which could bring about serious troubles. On this account, the third parties are of much concerns about the information. If medical information collected through various routes is used with another purpose, oilier than the initial intention, it might cause serious results beyond one's control. Thus, it is essential to keep the information confidential. Also, the discrimination based on the medical information ought to be banned because it is likely to happen that exposed information socially stigmatizes a person, being discriminated in a work place or a school when he/she is employed or gets an insurance. In the current system, only medical institutions are responsible for protecting or securing medical records. Despite the information technology development and the increased interests in medical information, there are quite a few limitations in legal, technical, and administrative aspects. All kinds of organizations, involved in collecting and using the information, as well as medical institutions primarily producing and managing it should share the responsibilities.
Keywords
- medical information;
- private information;
- health condition and medical history;
- medical institutions;
- information technology development;
- information confidential;
- medical records