The greater availability of patient records can make it easier to create false claims, through electronic tampering. This is yet another risk of telemedicine, which must be guarded against through encryption and proper security infrastructure.

Selling patient information to external entities?

People with long-term diseases like diabetes, or even those only genetically predisposed to genetic conditions, could be denied job opportunities or refused health insurance "if information stolen from data banks were sold to corporate bidders (Dark side, 1999, Science Daily, par. 3-4). Given the expense chronic conditions can cause, and the highly competitive job market, patient data must be unassailable, and it must be illegal to sell what should be protected information. Otherwise, patients may be deterred from seeking genetic testing or care because of fears that the information could be used against them.

What are some policies on the release of information, retention, and destruction of records?

Ethical...
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