Describe the importance of data protection and the access to patient records?

VERY important!: Maybe even more important than protecting credit card and bank account numbers. A dishonest person could use your health records to get medical treatment, prescription drugs or surgery, or submit false bills to insurance companies, or max out your health plan without you even knowing. Medical id theft can affect your finances, but it also affect your health.

Privacy: Patients medical information should be strictly between themselves and their doctors. Some allowance should be made for sharing with other doctors involved in their care. Currently the government and insurance companies have open access. The issue of data privacy is person but would be obvious for patients with mental illness, AIDS, and any condition embarrassing to themselves.