Keeping Medical Data Private By Srivatsan Venkatesan

Background When doing medical studies, the patients are anonymous The data used by the research group contains ICD codes ICD codes are set of codes that represent medical issues diagnosed by doctors

Summary Set of ICD codes can be traced backwards to identify the person The research group was able to trace back medical issues of former masschusets governor William Weld and his family

Ethical issue If the ICD codes fall in the wrong hands it can be a breach of privacy It can be used to black mail Source of medical spam

Solution Not worry about the breach of privacy, hope nobody evil gets the data

Solution Not provide data to medical studies by the patient

Solution Implement algorithms as shown in the article to secure the ICD codes, so that an evil doer will not be able to do anything harmful even if he/she obtains the ICD codes.