The Data Dilemma: Balancing Innovation With Trust In Healthcare

By Ben Baumann

In a landscape of frequent healthcare data breaches, a surprising level of patient trust remains, provided their information is used to improve health and wellness. In fact, a 2024 McKinsey & Company survey found nearly three-quarters of patients are willing to share their health information with their primary care physicians. However, two high-profile incidents involving Meta Pixel and the Flo app have led to a rethinking of how health data is collected, used, and protected.

Healthcare data, which includes clinical records, genetic data, and mental health history, is uniquely sensitive. Misuse can lead to stigma, discrimination, and a loss of autonomy. To build trust, organizations must embrace transparency. This includes clear privacy policies, informed consent that is easy to understand, and giving individuals control over their data through opt-in mechanisms and the right to access and delete their information. Beyond mere compliance, the principle of "privacy-by-design" should be a core tenet, employing practices like encryption, secure identity verification, and data minimization.