An Internet Search for Legal, Ethical and Security Issues, Term Paper Example

Explanation of how search was performed (what search criteria and/or rules you used).

My website search was conducted by first accessing goggle search engine. The words legal,” “ethical,” “auditing,” “control,” “security, “heath information,” “analysis,” or “HIPAA,” health information systems and information technology system were filled into the search engine one at a time and different sources emerged after which five sites were selected for review.

Detailed description of the five sites that were reviewed(including the URLs) and explanation for choosingselected sites.

1. Website -Center for Disease Control and Prevention.Public Health Surveillance Data: Legal, Policy, Ethical, Regulatory, and Practical Issues.

URL http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/su6103a7.htm

This site was selected because of its relevanceto health information technology in offering information regarding public health surveillance data issues and legal implications. The website is managed by Centers forDisease control and Prevention.

2. Website – Pediatrics. Legal, Ethical, and Financial Dilemmas in Electronic Health Record Adoption and Use. URL ww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3065078/

This website was selected because it offers information regarding database issues occurring among children and their right to privacy. It is managed by a renowned pediatric association.

3. Website Brookings.An Analysis of Legal Issues Related to the Use of Electronic Health Information in Pharmacovigilance Programs. URL http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/events/2008/6/13%20drug%20safety/rosati%20%20ehi%20drug%20safety%20collaboration%20legal%20guidance%20developed%20by%20coppersmith%20gordon%2004%2015%2008.pdf

Booking is a somewhat unpopular website, but valuable information pertaining to electronic records offered by scholars in the field. The issues discussed in this forum are done at a very high academic level; hence, my reason for selecting this site to review.

4. Website AMIA. Group Ethical, Legal and Social Issues. URLhttp://www.amia.org/programs/working-groups/ethical-legal-social-issues

This AMIA website is another forum where health information technology scholars share important views concerning matters affecting organizations and participants of the science.

5. Medical News.Legal Matters: Legal Issues Concerning Health Information Technology. URL http://easttnmedicalnews.com/news.php?viewStory=1280

This site was selected because it discusses a wide range of medical matters inclusive of health information technology and current trends within the science.

List key points and information found, and describe what you learned from information presented on the site (Clearly organize your discussion surrounding each site according to the respective URL).

1. Centers for Disease Control. The authors discussed the issue of HIPPA regulations pertaining to data collection and the ethical implications that exist for public health practitioners who conduct surveillance collecting data pertaining to communicable disease incidences, which must be reported. In reviewing this article the realization of HIPPA regulations limitations pertaining to the report of disease incidences and its exposure for public scrutiny was impacting(Bernstein & Sweeney, 2014)
2. The authors researched the ‘Legal, Ethical, and Financial Dilemmas in Electronic Health Record Adoption and Use,’ which is often overlooked in the anticipation of moving from paper to paperless technology. The financial dilemma lies in‘opt-out provisions that exclude patients from electronic record storage, sale of deidentified patient data by EHR vendors…… and payment mechanisms on the basis of statistical analyses’(Sittig & Singh, 2011, p 1). .This information was extremely new for me and knowledge of how information technology could become catastrophic was overwhelming.
3. The authors identified discrepancies occurring when electronic health records are used in prescribing patients’ medications. They conducted a system analysis and discovered that there were risks regarding safety of drug administration when the system was used to retrieve medication data for prescription drugs. This taught me that maybe before administering a medication it may be wise to recheck the order with the prescribing physician(Rosati, Fatica & Roopali, 2008).
4. This is the American Medical Informatics Association website. The issue being discussed relates to ‘the purview of AMIA’s Ethical, Legal and Social Issues Working Group’ (AMIA, 2014) because these discrepancies are now becoming central to medical information systems’ management.
5. Medical News. This news forum highlighted legal issues pertaining to exposure of patients’ private data when information technology is being utilized from a worldwide wide web perspective some risks were also reviewed in the news forum(Taylor & Hennessey, 2014).

Summary of overall findings and what you collectively learned from your search effort and selected web sites

This research effort indicated that health information technology is a crucial health care intervention. Health care administration is advocating change into the paperless science. However it would appear that much thought or provisions were made for breaches in the systems that create undue exposure of private patient information. Now when faced with these embarrassment measures are taken to address issues as they surface. However, legal, ethical and privacy concerns are all over web being voiced at various forums

Provide any conclusions from research that may have been drawn and or recommendations made from investigation and review of the web sites.

While HIPPA has attempted to regulate electronic health record implementation practices across the country; public health surveillance disclosure polices whereby data from  is obtained from patients without consent for reporting purposes still seems to be a breach in privacy. However, the limitations of HIPPA regulations cannot intervene under such circumstances. Consequently, laws pertaining to disclosure of patients’ records under surveillance practices ought to be addressed.

References

AMIA (2014)Group Ethical, Legal and Social Issues. American Medical Informatics Association.

Bernstein, A., & Sweeney, M. (2014). Public Health Surveillance Data: Legal, Policy, Ethical, Regulatory, and Practical Issues. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Rosati, K. Fatica, K., & Roopali, D. (2008).An Analysis of Legal Issues Related to the Use of  Electronic Health Information in Pharmacovigilance Programs.eHI Connecting Communities for Drug Safety Collaboration

Sittig, D., &Singh, H. (2011). Legal, Ethical, and Financial Dilemmas in Electronic Health Record Adoption and Use. Pediatrics. 127(4): e1042–e1047

Taylor, J., & Hennessey, I. (2014).. Legal Matters: Legal Issues Concerning Health Information Technology.Medical News