http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2005300108,00.html By JACQUI THORNTON Health Editor June 30, 2005 PLANS to put patients' medical records on a central computer will put millions at risk from hackers, GPs said yesterday. They fear that releasing information to the system would betray patients' trust, leaving people wide open to ID theft and other abuses. The new electronic health record system being overseen by Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt will allow doctors to see patient records anywhere in England. But Dr Eleanor Scott, a GP from Barnet, North London, told the British Medical Association's annual conference that there would be huge potential for unauthorised access. And patients may become reluctant to talk about stigmatising conditions such as sexually-transmitted diseases or mental illness. She added: "Any such database presents a minefield of confidentiality issues. Medical records could be accessed by many people working where security is difficult to achieve. "The risks of errors, unauthorised access, identity theft and malicious tampering are legion." She said the database would include details of hobbies, jobs, religion, family and friends. And Dr Scott told delegates in Manchester the system would cost more than £30billion to set up - far more than the Government's national identity card scheme. Vivienne Nathanson, the BMA’s head of ethics, said the database may be useful but warned that 100 per cent security was "unachievable". Dr Simon Eccles, NHS head of IT, said people would not have to give information about certain medical conditions. _________________________________________ Attend the Black Hat Briefings and Training, Las Vegas July 23-28 - 2,000+ international security experts, 10 tracks, no vendor pitches. www.blackhat.com
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