BBC medical records story

[David Hansen]

On 7 Mar 2002 at 22:58, Peter Tomlinson wrote:

> 1. There is an emerging consensus, certainly in Europe, that
> information carried on a citizen's card must be backed up somewhere,
> so that the card can be recreated (and, as far as the ethical public
> sector is concerned, so that problems can be solved by analysing the
> records).

This goes back to the "we can't trust people" approach of government 
and other large organisations. It's highly unlikely that problems can 
be solved by analysing the central records. I doubt very much if the 
smart card will have a journal, so no doubt if there is a disparity 
between the card and government the central records will be believed. 
We know from banks the problems this can cause, it's an old problem 
that is no nearer solution.
 
> Those giving emergency
> treatment, for example, will be assisted if the patient carries a card
> which is a photo ID card

How and why?

What concern is it of medical people who the person they are treating 
is claimed to be by some identity card? People are because they are, 
not because government says they are.

> and carries information about allergies,
> regular medication, etc (you medical people can work that out).

This can be carried in many ways already, ways in which the patient 
can read the information wich is stored about them.

It will be very interesting to see the reaction in the media to the 
first known case where a patient is killed by a doctor relying on 
information provided in this way. We know that records are not and 
cannot be kept up to date, see the criminal records disaster for an 
example (another cock up by the Home Office). We also know that 
records can relate to the wrong person, see for example the FBI 
erasing duplicate DNA profiles in order to manipulate the statistics 
on how accurate the technique is.

--
  David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
 I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
 prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.