Government Security of Private Data

 UPDATE: Here is the pdf of the leaked nuclear sites in America. (Thank you to lewrockwell.com for informing me of the leak and the pdf.)

With the current push by the Obama administration for the federal government to enter into the health insurance industry, the ability of the federal government to protect private records has become a topic of concern. Given the past track record of numerous government agencies losing veteran records, USDA records, and student records, among other leaks, the task of protecting health records will need to be addressed. 

 

What many citizens do not realize is the fact that Obama's "Bailout Bill" gives the federal government authority to create a computerized database of every citizens health records. Now some people would say that is not such a bad idea. Doctor's need the ability to efficiently transfer patients records from one office to the other. What better way than for the government to be the one to provide that service? There is one problem, there is not a way for citizens who value their privacy to opt out of the database. 

 

For a person who believes in freedom and liberty the issue here is not the fact that computerized databases are good or bad. The issue is whether, in a country that values individual freedom, the federal government should be forcing people into a national database of any sort, medical or otherwise. Is one really free when a government can force citizens to take part in activities against their will? A bigger question is whether this act by the Congress is even constitutional?

 

Many doctors have already taken the step and adopted an electronic database for their patients medical records. There is no doubt that such a database to much more customer friendly and efficient. So what is wrong with the government doing the same thing that the private medical industry has already adopted? The answer is choice. 

 

In a centralized database a patient has no redress of grievances for the accidental release of their medical records. They can sue all they want. The fact remains that their records, and other patient's who are now worried, are still in that database. Still with the organization that was previously careless as it pertains to private records. 

 

With a system where each doctor or group of doctors each have their own seperate database the redress of grievances is simple. The patient removes their records from the irresponsible doctor and moves them to another, more reputable, doctor. If there are any complications with the previous doctor refusing to delete any records, the legal system can take care of it through a lawsuit. 

 

A free people need choices in their lives. Not every individual has the same needs as others, so there is no one size fits all plan that will work for a country the size of the United States. With choices a person can go to the one that best suits their individual needs, as small or as large as they may be. With a centralized database one can only hope that government will change its security of private records. With past precedent to go by that is not likely to happen.