Medical Confidentiality

Today, many people know and are aware that they are allowed to donate their organs to science after they are deceased. For those who do not know, donating organs help people who are in need of a new organ or tissues. Recently, it has been discussed that perhaps organs are not the only thing that someone can donate. It has been asked if we could donate our medical data after we die. “Why? Because medical research cannot take place without medical data, and the sad fact is that most people’s medical data are inaccessible for research once they are dead” (Shaw, Gross, and Erren 2017). There are the data rights to consider, the rights being the medical confidentiality where medical records are not to be shared or researched unless the patient consents …show more content…
While there are debatable areas in this idea, everyone may agree that it is best to prevent future causes of death one may experience and with this data a researcher could study more into it. Shaw, Gross, and Erren give many biased comments in their article. “Wouldn’t it be a lot easier if people could sing up to be data donors the same way that they can register as organ donors? That way, consent would exist for researchers to use data posthumously” (Shaw, Gross, and Erren 2017). The authors are clearly agreeing with the side of “donating” medical data after death. Though it sounds like a good idea, most people may not see it the same as these three do for some do not understand how much this could help out for future …show more content…
The long-term impact of this could help scientists discover cures and help solve unknown causes of diseases. While this may not appeal to many or affect anybody at the moment, it may be something to further look into and maybe consider that this idea could work. In the meantime, medical records of the deceased remain a secret in some countries while others may be able to look at them with the patients consent before