Who let the records out? by Michael Yoder
From: Alice - November 2004, Volume 7, Issue 11
The callous fag laughed.
When the provincial government recently announced that a Canadian subsidiary of an American company would be handling the medical Services Plan records of British Columbians, many people were nervous. People were nervous enough to form a coalition to oppose this movement.
Why oppose it? The coalition members are concerned that with the US Patriot Act, the security and privacy of personal records of Canadians would be compromised. And according to the Privacy Commissioner they were right.
The US Patriot Act allows the federal government of the States to access information held by any company of any person that it considers to be a threat to National security. And when the request for information is made it is made in secret. No company can disclose that a request has been made, about who the request has been made, or the information provided. This applies to all subsidiary companies as well as companies located in the States.
To their credit, the government attempted to ensure that Canadian information would be kept secure, through legislation. Where a request is made, the company must tell the provincial government of the request. This should keep everything okie-dokie and above board, right?
Wrong. The Patriot Act for American companies and their off-shoots are sworn to uphold American law, or face sever penalties that could even close their business).
Now why should people with HIV be concerned about this? If the US government decides in its wisdom, that AIDS activists are somehow a threat to National Security (if we bite people perhaps), it can request that all records for people with HIV be turned over to the FBI. The FBI can then see who's on what medications and stop those people from entering the country. Not that they don't already do that. People with HIV are, like gay men, communists and some others on a list, considered 'undesirables'. This Act simply provides the US with more information if they choose, on increasing that list. So, if you have a visit with Auntie Mame in Chicago, you might find that you are not allowed to travel in America.
Of course, this issue is not restricted to people with HIV people with HepC and other blood-borne illnesses are also on the potential chopping block for restricted access to travel.
Did the provincial government do the right thing in contracting out MSP records? Perhaps the question is about the need to use an American subsidiary. I wonder how many Canadian companies were short-listed.
I wonder, and I wonder ...