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And it would be much simpler if all you had to do was give them that authorization and they could retrieve your medical records in an instant, in the correct fo

by pimmen 8y ago

And it would be much simpler if all you had to do was give them that authorization and they could retrieve your medical records in an instant, in the correct format for them to work quickly. If they have to order your medical journal from a completely separate jurisdiction, in a completely different format, and then import it that would take longer. If you require specialist care which is not available in your area this is an issue that comes up again and again. Not saying a centralized system would fix all the problems, or be perfect, but if it improves 1% of cases that's potentially thousands of people saved every year. That's a huge return for a very minor improvement.

vertex-four 8y ago
All at the low, low risk of creating e.g. a centralised Government database of trans people, or people with HIV, or whatever the next big scare is.
- pimmen 8y ago
  Yes, not saying it's perfect or couldn't be used for evil, just like the FBI isn't perfect and can be used for evil. We have to weigh the options and legislate in a way that mitigates the ways it can be used for bad things. Again, just a few percent in efficiency could mean thousands upon thousands of lives saved. I'm sure a lot of HIV positive people who were mistreated would've loved that.
  - vertex-four 8y ago
    FWIW, this isn't a "could be" used for evil, it's a "will be" - there's no particular reason why Government databases of people with certain characteristics have been used to oppress and murder people in the past, but won't in the future. I'm young enough, and there's enough public opposition to people with my medical history, that there's a very high chance that my country decides that I no longer deserve protection of my human rights at some point in the next century at the very least - so I'd like to make it a little bit harder for them to figure it out.

by pimmen 8y ago

vertex-four 8y ago

All at the low, low risk of creating e.g. a centralised Government database of trans people, or people with HIV, or whatever the next big scare is.

pimmen 8y ago
Yes, not saying it's perfect or couldn't be used for evil, just like the FBI isn't perfect and can be used for evil. We have to weigh the options and legislate in a way that mitigates the ways it can be used for bad things. Again, just a few percent in efficiency could mean thousands upon thousands of lives saved. I'm sure a lot of HIV positive people who were mistreated would've loved that.
- vertex-four 8y ago
  FWIW, this isn't a "could be" used for evil, it's a "will be" - there's no particular reason why Government databases of people with certain characteristics have been used to oppress and murder people in the past, but won't in the future. I'm young enough, and there's enough public opposition to people with my medical history, that there's a very high chance that my country decides that I no longer deserve protection of my human rights at some point in the next century at the very least - so I'd like to make it a little bit harder for them to figure it out.