HMSA's access to records should be limited
In response to Ian Y. Lind's Dec. 17 article, "Medical data private? NO!" and Dec. 30 article, "Judge says physician must permit HMSA to review files," thank you, Ian Lind, for bringing the outrage to our attention, and thank you, Dr. Elsie "Blossom" Wang, for defending the patient's right to privacy.I still cannot believe that the employees of a health insurance carrier have access and insight into my most private medical information, without my current knowledge or informed consent.
I am a school teacher and it makes me shudder to think that any of my former students who now work for HMSA, or siblings of present students, may peep into my personal medical records.
I was an HMSA member for only one year in 1986. Does that really give HMSA the right to access my health records in perpetuity?
I am horrified about this power over my family's health records. I hope that patients' rights will soon be protected by Hawaii law, as the current practice seems "sittenwidrig," a German word denoting cultural indecency.
In the meantime, God bless you, Dr. Wang.
Christel Yount
(Via the Internet)
Patient should be priority concerning confidentiality
Access to medical records is essential for health insurance plans to document quality, credential physicians, verify efficiency and uncover fraud and abuse.However, access to any subscriber's medical record, by any employee, for any reason, at any time, does not serve the patient. Stricter and tighter boundaries around medical record access are required.
I support those physicians who advocate for patients. I also support those health plans that pursue the delivery of quality health care.
Sooner or later all of us will be patients, relying on our health-care institutions to address our frailties and illnesses. During that time, we must trust in the commitment that the patient does indeed come first.
This common human need for respect must be acknowledged and supported by our providers of care, plan administrators and state justices.
Dr. Ricardo C. Custodio
Health Policy Research Fellow
Harvard Medical School
Boston, Mass.
Hawaii needs airports, marine highways
A prosperous Hawaii requires county international airports, and intercounty marine highways. State legislators should recognize that these two transportation projects, paid for by the two existing special funds, will benefit the economy of Hawaii more than the shuffling of state revenue sources, as urged by the governor.E. Alvey Wright
Kailua
Loui is not qualified to serve on the PUC
It is unfortunate that Governor Cayetano does not keep his word when it comes to appointments.When I spoke to the governor about whom he would appoint to the Public Utilities Commission, he told me it would be someone with a strong business and telecommunications background. His appointment of Rae Loui to the PUC is a concern. She has no background in telecommunications. With the 113 telecommunications companies in Hawaii, we cannot afford to have her learning on the job.
Mainland-owned telecommunications firms have the ability to move job functions out of our state, thereby threatening job security. It is imperative we have a commissioner who will advocate keeping Hawaii's jobs for Hawaii's people.
Keeping jobs within the state will also provide faster service to our customers.
George M. Waialeale
Business Manager-Financial Secretary
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 1357
Powers-that-be want to do away with quarantine
I was saddened to read about the law passing quickly through government channels to have the quarantine time dropped for seeing-eye dogs.At first, when this whole "reduce the quarantine time" movement started (thanks to our governor and his right-hand man, Dr. Cal Lum), the big thing was that it would be better for seeing-eye dogs, because four months was such a hardship on their owners.
Rumor has it that only one person is the deciding factor in which pet has to stay quarantined for four months and which stays for 30 days andthat the rules for entry are not being followed.
Who will suffer in the long run? Not the governor, state veterinarian or the rehired manager of the quarantine. Not the temporary residents who come for a few years to these islands. No, it will be the residents who will bear the brunt of this reckless decision to shorten the quarantine.
I can see the writing on the wall: The seeing-eye dog will not have to be held in quarantine and then the law will be passed that no animal has to be in quarantine. One minute we complain about overpopulation of feral pets, and the next we open our doors to everything. Very sad.
Adrienne Yamasaki
Wahiawa
(Via the Internet)
Revenue from fireworks could help environment
I think that fireworks might cause acid rain in our community. It could cause damage to plants, yards or even animals. Since so many fireworks were sold, maybe 50 percent of the profit from stores should be used for environmental clean-up.Maybe next year we could try not to make as much pollution.
Meghan Barrett
Age 8
Kailua
(Via the Internet)
Fireworks are a threat to culture, environment
Firecrackers insult the integrity of the Hawaiian religious philosophy. The noise generated creates a gross inbalance in the eco-environ-metaphysical world of Hawaii nei.Most people who ignite fireworks on New Year's Eve don't do it for a religious or cultural purpose. The Legislature supports fireworks because of the large Asian population that cares little or nothing about our Hawaiian environment.
One only has to research the history of Asia to see the negative effect of pollution and the lack of regard for natural resources. The use of fireworks in Hawaii is ignorant and must be stopped!
Eric Poohina
Kailua
(Via the Internet)
Bishop Estate Archive
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