Govt. Mulls Guidance On Handling Of Personal Medical Info
NHK has learned that the government is planning to urge medical institutions and medical equipment manufacturers in Japan to review their handling of surgery videos that contain patients' personal information.
The Personal Information Protection Commission launched a survey of medical institutions after eye doctors were found to be selling videos to a medical equipment maker.
The doctors gave equipment maker Star Japan videos of cataract surgeries using the company's lenses without their patients' and hospitals' consent.
In July, the fair trade council of medical equipment manufacturers said more than 21 million yen, or about 140 thousand dollars, in cash had been paid to 75 doctors.
The Personal Information Protection Commission has been looking into the matter because videos of surgeries could lead to the identification of individual patients.
The commission says videos were mishandled at all of the dozens of medical institutions it surveyed across Japan.
Sources say the commission is considering issuing so-called administrative guidance to hospitals as well as to the equipment manufacturer.
The commission is also expected to raise awareness about the proper handling of videos by medical institutions.
It is unusual for the Personal Information Protection Commission to issue blanket administrative guidance to multiple businesses.
The commission said that it cannot comment at the moment.