As more algorithm-coded technology comes to market, the debate over how individuals’ de-identified data is being used continues to grow.
A class action lawsuit filed in a Chicago federal court last month highlights the use of sensitive de-identified data for commercial means. Plaintiffs represented by law firm Edelson allege the University of Chicago Medical Center gave Google the electronic health records (EHR) of nearly all of its patients from 2009 to 2016, with which Google would create products. The EHR, which is a digital version of a patient’s paper chart, includes a patient’s height, weight, vital signs and medical procedure and illness history.
