Comments on: Hants GP wants explicit consent for SCR http://www.no2id.net/newsblog/2010-03/hants-gp-wants-explicit-consent-for-scr/ The latest on Identity Cards and Databases in the UK Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:28:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: LeChiffre http://www.no2id.net/newsblog/2010-03/hants-gp-wants-explicit-consent-for-scr/comment-page-1/#comment-144037 LeChiffre Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:02:46 +0000 http://www.no2id.net/newsblog/?p=1835#comment-144037 "the vulnerable, the sick and the old would be better protected" If that were really the point, they should make SCRs available to "the vulnerable, the sick and the old" and leave everyone else out, at least to start with: that way they may be able to afford some meaningful SCR system which benefits patients rather than the bureaucrats. In any event, no one (including the "the vulnerable, the sick and the old") should have an SCR without explicit and informed consent. This should be a case of opting in not opting out. “the vulnerable, the sick and the old would be better protected”

If that were really the point, they should make SCRs available to “the vulnerable, the sick and the old” and leave everyone else out, at least to start with: that way they may be able to afford some meaningful SCR system which benefits patients rather than the bureaucrats.

In any event, no one (including the “the vulnerable, the sick and the old”) should have an SCR without explicit and informed consent. This should be a case of opting in not opting out.

]]> By: andrew http://www.no2id.net/newsblog/2010-03/hants-gp-wants-explicit-consent-for-scr/comment-page-1/#comment-144036 andrew Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:45:54 +0000 http://www.no2id.net/newsblog/?p=1835#comment-144036 Dr Gillian Braunold carefully writes: <blockquote>This means that you have an absolute right to opt out of having such an electronic record. It means you can change your mind at any time. And it means your permission will always be asked before a nurse or doctor accesses the record.</blockquote> However, if you try to withdraw from the SCR after a Record has been created for you, the data in "your" SCR will not be deleted, merely hidden from medical staff. Although doctors and nurses should ask you before accessing your record, nothing physically prevents them looking without asking, as did a Scottish Doctor curious about Gordon Brown's health records. And while Doctors and nurses should ask, Sir Humphrey is allowed to rootle through the SCR without asking if he thinks it's "in the public interest". References: Records can be accessed without consent "in the public interest": http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/systemsandservices/scr/documents/scrcmodelptv.pdf Security of Scottish records breached: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2010/01/10/doctor-who-hacked-into-prime-minister-s-health-records-escapes-prosecution-86908-21955907/ Once accessed, SCRs cannot be deleted (see item 28): http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/systemsandservices/scr/staff/faqs/mpsfaqs Dr Gillian Braunold carefully writes:

This means that you have an absolute right to opt out of having such an electronic record. It means you can change your mind at any time. And it means your permission will always be asked before a nurse or doctor accesses the record.

However, if you try to withdraw from the SCR after a Record has been created for you, the data in “your” SCR will not be deleted, merely hidden from medical staff. Although doctors and nurses should ask you before accessing your record, nothing physically prevents them looking without asking, as did a Scottish Doctor curious about Gordon Brown’s health records. And while Doctors and nurses should ask, Sir Humphrey is allowed to rootle through the SCR without asking if he thinks it’s “in the public interest”.

References:

Records can be accessed without consent “in the public interest”:
http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/systemsandservices/scr/documents/scrcmodelptv.pdf

Security of Scottish records breached:
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2010/01/10/doctor-who-hacked-into-prime-minister-s-health-records-escapes-prosecution-86908-21955907/

Once accessed, SCRs cannot be deleted (see item 28):
http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/systemsandservices/scr/staff/faqs/mpsfaqs

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