Law Commons^™

The Protection Of Privacy In Health Care Reform, Paul M. Schwartz

Vanderbilt Law Review

Legal regulation of the privacy of medical information is now at a critical stage. Americans are highly concerned about the processing and use of their personal data. Over three-quarters of the public currently believes that the individual has lost control of how personal information is circulated and applied by companies., Indeed, a recent poll reveals that those who know the most about the current protection of medical information-physicians, heads of medical societies, health insurers, and hospital CEOs-are also the most concerned about threats to personal privacy.

Social concern about the threat to informational privacy has resulted in strong approval for …