Privacy, Confidentiality, and the Use of Medical Records in Research

Abstract
An overview is presented of implications of the privacy and confidentiality issue for future medical and epidemiologic research in the USA. The importance of population-based biomedical research is described. Use of medical records with individually identifiable information is demonstrated from past use. Some health problems for which use of medical records is needed are listed and safeguards that are in effect for protecting the rights to privacy of human research subjects, discussed.