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Me and my medical data

Will Self ponders the good, the bad and the ugly of electronic medical records being rolled out across the NHS as he grapples with cancer treatment.

Patients care apps - which give patients unprecedented access to their health records - are being rolled out by NHS trusts across the country.

You might imagine, says Will Self, that 'this previously unimaginable access to such a wealth of medical data should empower me, make me feel I have a choice, and enable me to assist those treating me by being what every conscientious statistic wants to become: a good patient.'

Will argues that, on the contrary, this 'revolution in healthcare' only makes us more impotent, reduces patients to the status of customers and undermines the authority and expertise of medical professionals.

Producer: Adele Armstrong
Sound: Peter Bosher
Production coordinator: Liam Morrey
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

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9 minutes

Last on

Sun 28 Apr 2024 08:48

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  • Fri 26 Apr 2024 20:50
  • Sun 28 Apr 2024 08:48

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