Google defends its stance on medical data privacy

Sometimes, the appearance--or even the rumor--of impropriety can cause companies some major headaches. Such is the case with Google, which last week was forced to defend itself against the charge that it wants to sell health data from the personal health records consumers have created on its free service.

Previously an unknown in the healthcare business, the company's Google Health has vaulted to prominence as one of the leading  PHRs, alongside of Microsoft's platform and a few smaller efforts, since its launch last year. However, Google has faced challenges from privacy groups, who note that it probably isn't a "covered entity" as defined by HIPAA, and could conceivably do what it wanted with the data.

Now, a group calling itself Consumer Watchdog charges that the search giant was lobbying on Capitol Hill to get language allowing it to sell medical records added to the stimulus bill.

Google has taken pains to refute the charge, despite the fact that Consumer Watchdog doesn't seem to have any proof of their allegations. In an entry on its blog, Google asserted that it "does not sell health data," whether it's stored in Google Health, Gmail or any other products. The blog item also noted that Google opposes the sale of medical information by anyone in the healthcare business.

To learn more about the controversy:
- read this Wall Street Journal Health Blog item

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