[maeln]

There is many example why medical record is a very sensitive data.

You can be blackmailed because you have or had a "shameful" disease, a potential employer can deny you a job because you were too often sick for his own taste, insurance might deny you because you have a too risky profile, ...

[krn1p4n1c]

None of those scenarios are viable in Sweden.

[ubercow13]

Because Swedes are uniquely morally upstanding and non-judgemental?

[krn1p4n1c]

No, we're highly judgemental, but an employer is not allowed to inquire or make hiring/firing decisions with regard to your health status. Likewise life insurance might have a higher premium if you regularly engage in extreme sports, but they can't deny you. Health care is ubiquitous regardless of your condition.

[maeln]

And how would you know that an employer refused you a position because of your health record ?

These kinds of laws exists in most country, but if you cannot prove it, they are useless. So if a employer has a public access to your health record, what you prevent him from doing the above and tell you a random reason ?

There was a case in France were an Ikea director has access to private police record and was making hiring decision based on that. It's completely illegal but they did it for years before getting caught.

[fulafel]

And blackmail is also not allowed, so that's covered too.

[ptaipale]

Sorry, but this sounds a little naive, in the Annie Lööf style: "In Sweden, it's forbidden to be a criminal".

[zulln]

Health care insurance, privat sjukvårdsförsäkring, can deny you. Talk from experience.

Makes a lot of sense as well, anything else would be weird. If this was not the case you could just get it when you have already been deemed sick, to get the faster private care instead of public health care.

[crottypeter]

You seem to be missing the point. The boss does not have to enquire if the information is already public!

[krn1p4n1c]

I understood the point. If an employee/applicant felt they had been discrimitated against and reported it there would be an inquiry and serious financial/social consequences. Hiring is a lengthy process and firing is very difficult.

Lots of information is available in Sweden that would make Americans squeemish to have public. The difference is that most people aren't interested in the sordid details of their neighbors.

[asenk]

So do you then think it's legal in the U.S to possess stolen health data?