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January 28, 2009Google responded sharply this week to a Consumer Watchdog press release claiming that Google lobbyists were supporting were leading an effort to legalize the sale of electronic medical records. The press release alleged:
“The non-partisan Consumer Watchdog called on Google today to cease a rumored lobbying effort aimed at allowing the sale of electronic medical records in the current version of the Economic Stimulus legislation. Consumer Watchdog called on Congress to remove loopholes in the ban on the sale of medical records and include other privacy protections absent from the current bill such as giving patients the right to an audit detailing who had accessed their medical records and how the records were used.
“Reportedly Google is pushing for the provisions so it may sell patient medical information to its advertising clients on the new “Google Health” database: https://www.google.com/health/ “
Google’s rebuttal was posted Tuesday on their Public Policy Blog - (yes it’s true - Google does now have a public policy blog and is rapidly increasing their involvement in Washington and their voice on numerous issues).
Google’s Chief Policy Council responded to the allegations with the following:
“Earlier today a group called Consumer Watchdog put out a press release alleging a “rumored lobbying effort” by Google “aimed at allowing the sale of electronic medical records. This claim — based on no evidence whatsoever — is 100 percent false and unfounded.
“Google does not sell health data. In fact, one of our most steadfast privacy principles is that we don’t sell our users’ personal data, whether it’s stored in Google Health, Gmail, or in any of our products. And from a policy perspective, we oppose the sale of medical information in the health care industry.”
We will continue following Google’s involvement and potential effects on EMRs and EMR legislation closely as this issue continue’s to gain attention.
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