Question about a research i am doing

[Ioanna]

Hello!!
I am writing my thesis for my graduation and the subject is wireless body area networks (it's a set of sensors that are put on the patient and they are monitoring his/her vitals and for example if sb is having a stroke the doctor is being alerted and he do whatever it takes to save the patient ). Ι want to write about pros and cons of this technology but i can't find trustworthy sources for negatives and especially for the violation of patients rights. So I'm wondering if anyone know a site or anything that can help me.
I look forward to hearing from you as soon as you can!
Good day everyone,
Ioanna.

 

[TheGeekess]

Hello!!
I am writing my thesis for my graduation and the subject is wireless body area networks (it's a set of sensors that are put on the patient and they are monitoring his/her vitals and for example if sb is having a stroke the doctor is being alerted and he do whatever it takes to save the patient ). Ι want to write about pros and cons of this technology but i can't find trustworthy sources for negatives and especially for the violation of patients rights. So I'm wondering if anyone know a site or anything that can help me.
I look forward to hearing from you as soon as you can!
Good day everyone,
Ioanna.

www.google.com

We don't do homework, and this is NOT a legal question.

 

[Ioanna]

I asked here because my question is about a legal matter and i am studying computer science so i am not confident with these matters. So i thought that since i didn't find anything useful in google i should ask someone that is specialist on this matters and who is better than a lawyer?

 

[stealth2]

What rights do you feel are being violated?

Again - we don't do homework. You may find an attorney local to you willing to spend a bit of time answering specific questions.

 

[Ioanna]

The sensors have GPS on them. So the doctors know 24/7 where their patients are and i am sure that this violates their privacy. So i want to find a paper or even a site that will say about this violation because i haven't find anything. As for the lawyer i am in Greece and this technology hasn't arrived here yet so they don't have a clue about this matter. That's why i looked for a forum outside of Greece because my chances are bigger. So i appreciate anything you can tell me.

 

[CdwJava]

As was mentioned, this is a US legal site. But, I'd have to say that - at least here - such sensors would be a decision made by the patient. If the patient chose NOT to receive such intensive monitoring, they could have some other form of treatment - or, no treatment at all. It is NOT an invasion of privacy if you agree to it.

 

[Ioanna]

I thought of that too but i if i want to be objective i have to present both sides of the same coin. And since this is an emerging technology everyone wants to promote it so they only write online about its advantages and not the disadvantages...That's why i have a hard time to find trustworthy sources..

 

[Dandy Don]

If you know the names of any companies that manufacture the sensors or the technology, contact them. You can also contact the reference department of any university in your area or in your country and if you make your question specific enough they can help with the research on this. You may also want to contact the New York Public Library.

 

[Ioanna]

I don't know the name of the companies. I only know where they are being used and they are in Harvard university and in Boston university in consortium with some hospitals there. It is used only on academic level for now and that's why i have such a hard time to find information about this technology. Do you think that if i contact both of them they will be helpful?

 

[cbg]

I think that if you are writing from Greece about a technology that does not exist where you are; is used only with the patient's knowledge and permission in the US; is one for which you do not know the name or names of the manufacturer(s) and only know of two universities which are using them (both of which will have thoroughly vetted the legal question long before the devices were ever put into use) and do not know who to contact at either, all so that you can present a very doubtful premise (i.e. such devices present an illegal violation of privacy) that perhaps instead of asking a message board if they think the schools will help you, you should instead come up with a different thesis topic instead.

I can promise you that both Harvard and Boston University not only have very fine law schools but also work with very big law firms, and have no interest in violating any laws or rights. Don't you think that the schools will have researched the question of privacy rights before they implemented the devices?

 

[Mass_Shyster]

Interesting topic.

I can see where there would be issues if someone's medical records were subpoenaed and the GPS locations contained within those records were used against the patient.

 

[Ioanna]

Thank you very much Mr. Steve!!!
I haven't thought of that at all!! The violation of privacy was the first thing that popped in my head!!