[stale2002]

> Medical record information is valuable only because it is private. If it were public, it wouldn't be considered as important. Much like wage data.

Ummm, thats not true at all. A whole lot of people would not want all their friends knowning every little detail about their medical history. There are lots of embarrassing issues that people have that nobody would want to be made public.

Think STDs or mental health issues.

[conanbatt]

The information is valuable only in so far as it helps making decisions about it: someone should know if the other person has AIDS, or Terminal cancer, for making lots of decisions. Hiding that information might help the sick person, but it doesn't give good results in the end to the system.

Another reason to defend privacy in this regard is to use it as a tool against discrimination. But its as good as thinking that the way to prevent robberies is to have no assets. It might be useful today,but its not a goal, it is a compromise.

Embarrassment is not something to indulge. It is a feeling that springs only out of society.