HIPAA standards for privacy of individually identifiable health information: an introduction to the consent debate

On March 27, 2002, DHHS published proposed amendments to the Privacy Standards under HIPAA. The most controversial of these changes is the removal of the requirement that providers obtain patient consent before using or disclosing protected health information for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations. Some see this change as a rejection of privacy rights, while others see it as an acknowledgement of practical reality. This comment introduces the reader to the issues that are debated immediately following in the articles by Geralyn A. Kidera and Kristen Rosati.