Safe, controllable technology?

Abstract

In a discussion starting from Haux et al. it is asked, if a safe and controllable technology to implement the patient centered health record is available and which measures must be taken to insure the safety of the record-these include legislation, education, technical measures etc. In addition to the goals set forward in the support for patient empowerment is proposed as another major goal for IT-systems in medicine for the next decade. Finally the role of IT with respect to physicians and patients is discussed: IT systems have the capability to perform tasks that are considered the tasks of physicians and it is likely, that these capabilities will be implemented.