Janarthanan Venkatesh, Kumaran M Senthil, Nagrale Ninad V, Singh O Gambhir, Raj Karthi Vignesh
Forensic Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalyani, Kolkata, IND.
Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Madurai, Madurai, IND.
Cureus. 2024 Mar 20;16(3):e56518. doi: 10.7759/cureus.56518. eCollection 2024 Mar.
Electronic health records (EHR) have revolutionized healthcare by providing efficient access to patient information, but their implementation poses various challenges. This paper examines the ethical and legal issues surrounding EHR adoption, particularly focusing on the healthcare landscape in India. Ethical considerations, including patient autonomy, confidentiality, beneficence, and justice, must guide EHR implementation to protect patient rights and privacy. Legal issues such as medical errors, malpractice, data breaches, and billing inaccuracies underscore the importance of robust policies and security measures. Threats to EHRs, such as phishing attacks, malware, encryption vulnerabilities, and insider threats, emphasize the need for comprehensive cybersecurity strategies. Overcoming challenges in EHR implementation requires meticulous planning, financial investment, staff training, and stakeholder support. Despite the complexities involved, the benefits of EHR adoption in improving patient care and operational efficiency justify the efforts required to address legal, ethical, and technical concerns. Embracing EHRs while mitigating associated risks is essential for delivering high-quality healthcare in the digital age.
电子健康记录(EHR)通过提供对患者信息的高效访问彻底改变了医疗保健,但它们的实施带来了各种挑战。本文探讨了围绕EHR采用的伦理和法律问题,特别关注印度的医疗保健格局。伦理考量,包括患者自主权、保密性、行善和正义,必须指导EHR的实施以保护患者权利和隐私。诸如医疗差错、医疗事故、数据泄露和计费不准确等法律问题凸显了健全政策和安全措施的重要性。对EHR的威胁,如网络钓鱼攻击、恶意软件、加密漏洞和内部威胁,强调了全面网络安全策略的必要性。克服EHR实施中的挑战需要精心规划、资金投入、员工培训和利益相关者的支持。尽管存在诸多复杂性,但采用EHR在改善患者护理和运营效率方面的好处证明了应对法律、伦理和技术问题所需的努力是合理的。在减轻相关风险的同时采用EHR对于在数字时代提供高质量医疗保健至关重要。