New York Times:

Americans may soon be able to get their medical records through smartphone apps as easily as they order takeout food from Seamless or catch a ride from Lyft.

But prominent medical organizations are warning that patient data-sharing with apps could facilitate invasions of privacy — and they are fighting the change.

And:

The American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association and other groups said they had recently met with health regulators to push for changes to the rules. Without federal restrictions in place, the groups argued, consumer apps would be free to share or sell sensitive details like a patient’s prescription drug history. And some warned that the spread of such personal medical information could lead to higher insurance rates or job discrimination.

This is no small thing. It’s the reason federally mandated privacy rules are in place. Apple’s privacy commitment is a promise, but not a legal requirement. And if you move beyond Apple and the Health app, your privacy risks rise significantly.

To me, knowing exactly who has access to my shared medical history is at least as important as who has access to my location or email. Centralizing access to a patient’s medical records is certainly valuable, making it easier for all your doctors to gain an accurate view of your history and medicines. But there is the potential for all your highly personal medical details to become public.