Dr Justin Maykel
Now that patients in the United States have immediate access to their electronic medical records, they can read test results that mean cancer before their doctor has had a chance to talk to them.
This is what happened to Justin Maykel, MD. When he phoned a patient to personally share some unfortunate biopsy results that he received that day, he was shocked to find that his patient had already been notified of the findings.
Maykel vented on Twitter:
Called a patient today to tell them their colonoscopy biopsies showed cancer. Patient already knew — got an automated alert earlier in the day and read the results on the online medical record. At home, alone.
This new law granting access to test results is a BIG problem.
He was referring to the portions of the 21st Century Cures Act that ensure patient access to certain medical records, except in cases where a patient might be harmed by access to the information.
The "Twitterverse" reacted swiftly. The tweet garnered more than a thousand retweets and comments — and nearly 2 million impressions at last count.
Some of the commenters commiserated with Maykel's dismay about his patient receiving the difficult news without support and context.
