A patient who is prescribed an antidepressant receives information in the mail about a mental health clinic and several telephone calls from marketers about support groups and counseling centers. Which issues with this patient's information have occurred? Select all that apply.

Question

A) Data sharing
B) Informed consent
C) Ownership of data
D) Secondary use of data
E) Privacy versus confidentiality

Answer 1

A) Data sharing
C) Ownership of data
D) Secondary use of data
E) Privacy versus confidentiality

Explanation: A) There are questions about control and implications when the data are shared.
B) Sharing of the information about the patient's medication is not an informed consent issue.
C) Because the ownership of patient data is not clearly addressed from a legal perspective, the information about the patient's medication has been shared.
D) Data should be de-identified before being reused or given as secondary data. Because the patient is receiving mail and telephone calls, it is obvious that the data were not properly de-identified.
E) Data is typically de-identified; however, there are occasions when personal information can be identified and information released that could cause harm and potential social stigma, especially for a mental health issue.