> Your consent to be used in research is basically baked into anything you’ve whipsaw signed at a doctor’s office.
Eh, that's not exactly true. HIPAA isn't the only (or even primary) vehicle for safeguarding patients from research, and most research is conducted under the auspices of large (usually academic) institutions that have processes to ensure informed consent, which are in turn backed by other legal statutes or contracts. Those aren't perfect, but it's not correct to say that patients provide blanket consent when they begin at a new practice, or that HIPAA is responsible.
Eh, that's not exactly true. HIPAA isn't the only (or even primary) vehicle for safeguarding patients from research, and most research is conducted under the auspices of large (usually academic) institutions that have processes to ensure informed consent, which are in turn backed by other legal statutes or contracts. Those aren't perfect, but it's not correct to say that patients provide blanket consent when they begin at a new practice, or that HIPAA is responsible.