Property rights and privacy principles.

Healthcare consumers own their medical information. As paper medical folders become digital, protection of this private and confidential information falls to information specialists rather than the traditional care givers. On the basis of a nationwide market assessment study, the authors identify the key issues regarding protecting this personal digital property and outline the federal requirements stemming from the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Consumer informed consent over the use of specific medical data is a basic requirement, and is a concept supported by physicians and care givers who rely on consent to approve surgeries and treatment. The article concludes with a solution outline that places the patient in control of his or her personal information, meets security and privacy concerns, and facilitates the critical exchange of patient information among care givers.