Civil Liberties and Computer Data (NHS)

Written by Geoff Collard Tuesday, 09 March 2010

The Labour government wants to introduce yet more control over our lives. It has become apparent that the latest erosion of our civil liberties will be our medical records in the NHS. The government is introducing a 'trial' to have all people's medical records on a national database (initially only basic data, but it will be a short step from there to our complete medical history and records).

The Government is saying it will be a 'voluntary' database and that people won't have to be on it. But the crucial point is that it will be an 'opt-out' scenario. In other words, you will be presumed to have consented to having your medical records on the national database unless you opt out in writing! Since most people won't even be aware of this it will in effect be compulsory. The  government (of course) has privatised this process and the company implementing it have refused to make it an 'opt-in' process (i.e. you'd be presumed not to consent unless you specifically did) on the ground that it would be 'impractical'. They mean it would cost them more as well no doubt, but it seems a pretty sure thing also that the Government has directed them to do this.

You can be sure also in any case that there won't be much of an advertising process to make people aware of their right to 'opt out'. And even if there were, most people still wouldn't be aware of it.

This database is unnecessary, and even if it were thought to be advantageous, people should be presumed to refuse their consent unless they specifically wanted to consent. We already have precious little of our lives which is not open to computerised view by the Government (and others), and we definitely don't want more. Control and data gathering on citizens should be reduced, not increased. Another example of Labour's control mentality (which Gordon Brown has demonstrated personally very recently in the media).