title: Ethical Considerations about EHR-Mediated Results Disclosure and Pathology Information Presented via Patient Portals.
abstract: Electronic health records (EHR) now include patient portals where patients can obtain clinical reports, including notes, radiology reports, and laboratory/anatomic pathology results. Although portals increase patient access to information, no guidelines have been developed for hospitals about appropriate delays in posting different types of pathology reports to the EHR. Delays exist as a matter of policy to allow physicians time to answer questions and provide emotional support when discussing sensitive results with patients. Some types of results are more sensitive than others, however, including results of cancer, genetic, and HIV testing. Ethical questions about patient access to test results online are discussed.
authors.forename: Kristina A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Associate professor of pathology, section head of hematopathology, and director of the Ethics Path of Excellence (a co-curricular program) at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, and serves as a hospital ethicist, performing ethics consultations at the University of Michigan Medical Center.
authors.forename: Lauren B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information / Q000941:ethics*; D003954:Diagnostic Services / Q000941:ethics*; D030881:Disclosure / Q000941:ethics*; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D004644:Emotions; D026690:Ethics, Clinical; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000941:ethics*; D000072638:Patient Portals / Q000941:ethics*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations