Americans Don't Trust Feds to Protect Patient Health Record Database

The respondents were more likely to strongly agree with the statement that the individual's primary care physician, medical personnel, the patient and the patient's spouse or legal guardian should have access to electronic medical records in a national database.

But they were less likely to strongly agree with the statement that all qualified medical personnel, federal departments and agencies, law enforcement with valid subpoena or court order, system administrators, employers, and business organizations advising of new products or services should have similar access.

In its executive summary, the institute's survey said that because so many respondents are not aware the government is considering the creation of a national health record database, "there seems to be uncertainty about who should be responsible for managing a national database of Americans' health information.

"In fact, almost half (45%) would not pick any of the options offered in the study to manage the government database," such as many private companies with government contracts, one private company under government contract, a new government agency charged with managing the database, or an existing federal agency, such as HHS.

The respondents identified themselves as 35% Democrat, 28% Republican, and 21% Independent. 56% stated they have private insurance, while 19% were on Medicare or Medicaid and 13% were uninsured.