Pittwater Life August 2018 Issue

News
GP urges ‘opt out’ of digital health record
Newport GP Dr Julian Northover
has warned locals to
do their due diligence before
deciding to remain part of the
Federal Government’s new ‘My
Health Record’ – which automatically
stores individuals’
personal health information in
a massive digital database and
places the onus on people to
‘opt out’ of the program rather
than gain their approval to
participate.
A passionate opponent, Dr
Northover said there were
numerous reasons why he had
already opted out (the window
triggered July 16 and runs
through October 15).
“I did not feel I could trust
the government My Health Record
(‘MyHR’) with my personal
health information which I
disclosed in confidence to my
local doctor,” Dr Northover told
Pittwater Life.
“Nor did I feel I could trust
the government to not change
the rules about access to my
health data in the future; the
government’s refusal to delete
our records if requested once
they are created; the 900,000-
plus health providers and
administrators with access
rights to MyHR; the 100,000-
plus ‘venerable’
computers accessing
MyHR; the
sharing / cross
match of records
by many government
departments
without my knowledge
or consent;
the potential to
use MyHR to deny
/ reduce access to
health insurance or
life/income insurance;
and the use of MyHR in
any judicial process through
subpoena.”
Dr Northover said other concerns
included the potential
use of MyHR to limit employment
prospects through
‘authorised releases’.
“There’s also the linking of
MyHR to other family members
and peers, as well as to
newer big data tools including
artificial intelligence which
will further interrogate our
OPPOSED: Dr Northover.
records,” he said.
“I do not feel that MyHR is
a prudent thing for society,
where we are at the cusp of
storing genetic
information as
part our patient
records.
“Alarmingly, I
did not feel that
MyHR had been
explained to me
– especially the
costs and risks – in
sufficient detail
(including through
my role as a ‘IT
literate’ general
practitioner).
“And I did not feel that
MyHR will add substantially to
my clinical care as a patient –
nor did I feel that the minimal
patient benefits of emergency
presentations and allergies
justified what we are signing
up to.”
Dr Northover said anyone
old enough to remember the
‘Australia Card’ proposal
would recall the debate it
created and the way it was
“watered down” to the creation
of Tax File Numbers.
“Now we live in a newer
digital age where the level of
interrogation of big data for
government and corporate use
will far exceed anything we
can imagine today.”
He said he did believe however
that further efficiencies
in healthcare information were
required to help better manage
care and its costs – but that the
current format “signs us and
our children to a more onerous
and less-forgiving future”.
“This will become a bigger
story in the media as people
become aware of what they
are getting pushed into,” he
said. “Let’s ‘opt out’ for a better
discussion… and while you’re
at it, the kids too!”
More info can be found at
‘For Sale – Your Privacy and
Your Health Data’ at privacy.
org.au; also read the Australian
Medical Association’s view
ama.com.au/gp-network-news/
my-health-record
* What it means – read Jennifer
Harris’ law column p54.
12 AUGUST 2018
The Local Voice Since 1991