SPOTLIGHT: Public disclosure of health data

In its October issue, Wired magazine listed "forget medical privacy" among its annual list of "Smart Ideas," and quoted Jamie Heywood, founder of data-mining website PatientsLikeMe. Not surprisingly, privacy and security advocates weren't amused. This week, The Cyber Secure Institute called that notion "profoundly stupid, utterly senseless" and a few other unflattering things. "If all our personal medical data was made public as Wired and Heywood argue, the impacts on Americans would be far reaching," said Executive Director Rob Housman. "Everyone whose data indicates anything that an employer may frown upon would be at risk." Press release