Ethical issues related to electronic health records (EHRs) confront health personnel. Electronic health records create conflict among several ethical principals. Electronic health records may represent beneficence because they are alleged to increase access to health care, improve the quality of care and health, and decrease costs. Research, however, has not consistently demonstrated access for disadvantaged persons, the accuracy of EHRs, their positive effects on productivity, nor decreased costs. Should beneficence be universally acknowledged, conflicts exist with other ethical principles. Autonomy is jeopardized when patients’ health data are shared or linked without the patients’ knowledge. Fidelity is breached by the exposure of thousands of patients’ health data through mistakes or theft. Lack of confidence in the security of health data may induce patients to conceal sensitive information. As a consequence, their treatment may be compromised. Justice is breached when persons, because of their socioeconomic class or age, do not have equal access to health information resources and public health services. Health personnel, leaders, and policy makers should discuss the ethical implications of EHRs before the occurrence of conflicts among the ethical principles. Recommendations to guide health personnel, leaders, and policy makers are provided.

Elizabeth J. Layman

The Health Care Manager

The Health Care Manager (HCM), provides practical, applied management information for managers in institutional health care settings. It is a quarterly journal, horizontally integrated and cutting across all functional lines, written for every person who manages the work of others in any health care setting. This journal presents practical day-to-day management advice as well as research studies addressing current issues in health care management. Its intent is the strengthening management and supervisory skills of its readers and increasing their understanding of today"s health care environment. HCM is searchable through PubMed.

The Health Care Manager (HCM) is a quarterly journal that provides practical management information for managers in institutional health care settings. It is horizontally integrated and covers all functional areas, written for anyone who manages the work of others in any health care environment. This journal presents practical day-to-day management advice as well as research studies addressing current issues in health care management. Its intent is to strengthen the management and supervisory skills of its readers and to enhance their understanding of today’s health care environment. HCM is searchable through PubMed.

《Health Care Manager》是一本季度刊，专为医疗机构管理者提供实用的管理信息。该期刊涵盖所有职能领域，旨在为任何在医疗环境中管理他人工作的人员提供服务。期刊内容包括日常管理建议以及针对当前医疗管理问题的研究，旨在提升读者的管理和监督技能，并加深他们对当今医疗环境的理解。《Health Care Manager》可通过PubMed进行检索。

Ethical Issues and the Electronic Health Record

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