New ACP case study examines ethics related to lab results, information blocking rule
While access to information may give patients an opportunity to become more involved in their care, there are risks.
A new ethics case study from ACP, “Lab Result Reporting, Ethics, and the 21st Century Cures Act Rule on Information Blocking,” is now available for CME credit and MOC points.
The case study dives into the benefits and potential ethical implications for patients and clinicians of the 21st Century Cures Act rule on information blocking, which standardizes formats to allow patients direct access to their clinical information. While access to information may give patients an opportunity to become more involved in their care, there are risks. Release of information without context may harm the patient, who is left to interpret test results alone, and also the patient-physician relationship, which should support the development of appropriate further diagnostic and treatment strategies together.
This ethics case study was developed by ACP's Ethics, Professionalism, and Human Rights Committee and the ACP Center for Ethics and Professionalism. More information about the College's ethics and professionalism activities is online.