Privacy threat - Medical Records for sale

Outsourcing is a fact of life in many industries. If this kind of thing worries you then you should consider lobbying your government for regulation on such activity.

Outsourcing data is probably a far greater risk to your privacy than the outsourcing of labor is a risk to your job. These days even your doctor or other service provider may not know if your data is being sent overseas for some processing.

Medical records sent for computerisation to India up for sale- Politics/Nation-News-The Economic Times:
"NEW DELHI: In a development that is certain to lead to a hardening of stance on the outsourcing industry by the western world, investigations conducted by a British TV channel have come up with the stunning revelation that confidential medical records sent to India for computerisation are being offered for sale, triggering heightened concerns about breach of data security here.

The revelation has forced police of the two countries to join hands to launch an official investigation into the data pilferage of the records stored by the Indian BPOs.

. . .


The files procured were of patients of London Clinic, one of Britain’s top private hospitals. Several hospitals in the National Health Service have also outsourced their transcription to India, sparking concern over data safety following the latest investigation. "

Blue Dye Treats Spinal Injuries

This is why pure research needs to be funded. Using a food additive to treat medical conditions isn't something that is likely to turn up in a for-profit laboratory.

The Blue Dye in M&Ms Cures Spinal Injuries | Popular Science:
"The candy gets its color from a compound called Brilliant Blue G (BBG), a food dye that's used in Gatorade and other products -- and turns out to also be medically useful. Building on earlier research, scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center have found that injections of BBG can relieve mice of secondary spinal cord injuries. In September, they will start conducting human clinical trials."

The funding doesn't need to be from the Federal government, but some corporations, institutions, or charities need to be funding research in a variety of arenas without the intent to produce marketable products (just knowledge). From such research, great things frequently come.