Sacred secrets broken. Threats to the confidentiality of medical records. The case of Osabide, the centralized data base of Osakidetza (Basque Health Service) in Spain

The Basque Health Service, Osakidetza, established in 2003 a centralized data base, Osabide, with two millions medical records in full without asking permission or even notifying patients or the public (in some cases against the written opposition of a few patients who knew about the initiative). Two general practitioners who rejected Osabide and prepared a piece of paper to inform patients in the waiting room were punished with a penalty of two years without work and salary (later on a jury order to repair all rights). This is a letter about the case.

• Sacred secrets broken. Threats to the confidentiality of medical records. The case of Osabide, the centralized data base of Osakidetza (Basque Health Service) in Spain. Gérvas J. 2003. Download whole article here.

Link to first publication http://docpatient.net/ethics/pdf/Sacredsecretsbroken2003.pdf

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