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Relatively little attention was paid last year when President Obama called for creation of a database containing the DNA of a million volunteers as part of moves toward “precision medicine,” or tailoring healthcare to people’s individual needs.
But to many in the healthcare field, Obama’s embrace of a national repository of genetic information was seen as a turning point in advancing use of “big data” to reduce medical costs and improve people’s well-being by anticipating disorders before they become serious problems.
The benefits of such a system seem obvious. Algorithms would piece together clues from doctor, hospital and drugstore claims, as well as other information such as social media postings, and alert physicians if it appears that a patient is at greater risk of a disease or a chronic condition.
But questions remain about safeguarding people’s privacy and how such information might be used.
"Precision medicine gives us one of the greatest opportunities for new medical breakthroughs we've ever seen," Obama said. He also said that "privacy will be built in from Day One."
Healthcare ethicists aren’t so sure.
“Big data...