[BrokenEnso]

I'd like for that database to be something that I control. This is, something that I carry with with me, like a usb stick; and that I have the software/tools to view it. Then I could actually take read though any notes and maybe take a more active role in my health.

[mcculley]

I would like that as well, but do you seriously think that would work for most people? Would you want your less technical loved ones to be responsible for the physical security of their data and carry it with them at all times?

[fixermark]

I think that's over-thinking it. Medical alert bracelets already exist; I can't imagine it'd be too much challenge to embed a ruggedized USB stick in one, and people generally don't worry about less technical people failing to remember to wear their bracelet.

[mcculley]

That's a really good point. It wouldn't take much more miniaturization than what we already have to put that in an earring or something else people wouldn't mind having all the time.

[BrokenEnso]

It wouldn't be that much more different then paper medical records. Sure it would enable some interesting attack vectors, but I don't see that to be a compelling reason to not do it. It also wouldn't have to be a mandatory thing. People that are comfortable with it can use it, and those that aren't don't have to. Much like banks, there were (are) lots of people that don't trust back and choose not to use them. The same would be true for something like this.