title: Present and future challenges in medical data management: economics, ethics, and the law.
abstract: Electronically-linked knowledge plays an increasingly central role in the delivery of health services worldwide. Medical data collection, archival, and analysis are all increasing in both rate and volume; large, cohesive collections of personal health information are emerging rapidly. Factors driving this integration include value-added methods of diagnosis and therapy, interest in evidence-based practices, safety concerns, and increased consumer demand for personalized, comprehensive medical services. Practitioners, businesses, patients, and the public at large would be well-served to develop and sustain a dialogue addressing these phenomena, including assessments their of economic, ethical, legal implications.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Department of Urology, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Salil H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D016494:Computer Security; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004470:Economics, Medical; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006076:Government; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D028701:Patient Rights