Four ethical issues that arise when storing electronic information about individuals are security breaches, privacy and confidentiality, data inaccuracy, and system implementations. When personal health information is disclosed to other parties without the subject’s knowledge or permission, security breaches pose a harm to those people’s right to privacy. The advent of EHRs, greater usage of mobile devices like smartphones, medical identity theft, and the eagerly anticipated data sharing between companies, physicians, federal agencies, and patients are all contributing factors to the growing worry over the security of health information. In order to prevent this from happening, companies and organizations are needed to formally name a security officer to collaborate with a group of health IT specialists who may assess the system’s users and technologies and take steps to reduce security breaches. Privacy and confidentiality is another ethical issue. To protect patient information, security measures including strict privacy and security rules are crucial. Keeping information confidential requires limiting access to only those who are permitted. This starts with granting users permission. Access is granted to users based on previously defined role-based privileges. In addition to identifying users and deciding how much information will be shared, administrators also assign usernames and passwords. Only with the patient’s consent or as permitted by law may patient information be disclosed to third parties. Data loss during a data transmission is the cause of data inaccuracy, which raises questions about how reliable the patient’s data is. Inappropriate usage of choices like “cut and paste” results in inaccurate depiction of the patient’s current state and course of treatment. Due to the increased danger for patients and liability for healthcare professionals and organizations, this practice is unethical. When data is lost or destroyed during data transfer, there are concerns regarding the data base’s accuracy because it is used to make choices about patient care. During the adoption of EHRs, healthcare organizations face significant difficulties that squander resources, upset providers, cause patients to lose faith in the system, and compromise patient safety. The establishment, implementation, and upkeep of EHRs call for sufficient funding as well as the participation of a large number of people, including medical professionals, IT professionals, teachers, and consultants. System implementations efforts fall short because the significance of one or more clinicians acting as thought leaders for clinic providers is undervalued.
