Would you like to see my medical records?

There's something rather coffee-tableish about this. Perhaps, rather than displaying photographs of their grandchildren, people may soon start printing out their medical records and conspicuously placing them in their living rooms where they can become conversation starters:

Have you seen my x-rays after my last surgery? They're very pretty!

or perhaps:

That's a very impressive list of pharmaceuticals you've got there, but have you tried ...?

I don't doubt that in time of need having access to these records can be very helpful, but I wonder whether making these available may generate a new industry - courses that train patients in reading and interpreting these records. Having these records available for when we may need them is certainly desirable, but I tend to think that few people would be able to resist the temptation to look at them and try to understand them. And I wonder whether doctors who make these records available are aware of what they may be getting themselves into.

Go to: Virtual worlds, and real health.