The Advantages Of E-Health And Its Impact On Patient’s Right Of Privacy

Abstract

E-health has become a life style in many countries. The emergence of e-health was an avoidable consequence of the development of the information and communication technology in the world. It is undeniable that e-health offers both quick and comfortable health service. It introduces a new form of relationship between health care provider and health care receiver. However, it also brings bad impact, especially related to the patient’s right of privacy. In order to protect the patient’s right of privacy from any transgression, a specific regulation governing e-health is needed. Such a regulation has existed in many countries including in Malaysia. In Malaysia, the government has enacted Personal Data Protection Act 2005. The purpose of this paper is to explore the advantages of e-Health on serving the modern society and its negative impacts, especially pertaining to the issue of privacy. The discussion regarding privacy will be focused on the privacy of patient who enters into new form of relationship with healthcare service provider through internet.