Taking a holistic approach to exchanging health information over a global network.

This chapter is on the use and management of information via the medium of computer technology, the impact of computer technology on information, and the issues that arise from this ‘information flow’. Personal privacy, information privacy, patient competence and informed consent are just some of the ethical concerns within the health care communication environment. The focus of the discussion concerns the accuracy, integrity of systems and information, confidentiality and the interpretation of health information – all of which have consequences for the patient. In showing how these networked technologies are in use today, and taking into account existing research programmes, it becomes possible to hypothesise future uses.

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