Privacy and Healthcare Informatics: A Critical Analysis

Abstract

This paper revisits a previously published critical analysis of privacy and healthcare informatics in order to provide additional insight and commentary on the main findings. It also considers a small number of potential solutions offered by the literature for addressing ICT privacy concerns in general. While no one approach will resolve the privacy risks inherent in healthcare informatics, or indeed any systems that process personal information, there is some hope that a multi-pronged approach may prove effective. The role of systems developers in improving ICT privacy is advocated, given that they are in a privileged position to influence the direction of systems development by promoting privacy as an indispensable, human-centred value. As very little is known concerning the actual role privacy plays in the development of information systems, the ongoing research seeks to help redress this gap.

Keywords: Medical Applications, Privacy, Human Factors, Socio-Technical System Design