Maxims and Arrows

4.25.2002
Just a day left to make comments to HHS regarding the newly proposed regulations regarding medical privacy. Essentially, HHS and the current administration have advocated eliminating "Patient Consent" to sharing of medical records and replacing it with "Patient Notification." Though there are many other changes in the proposed regulations, I believe this is the most significant. No longer will doctors need your consent to share your medical records, they will only need notify you that they are letting someone in on your history. I'm sure the insurance companies and police would love to know about the trace amounts of drugs found in your system the last time you had bloodwork done. Maybe they could then jack up your rates before the adverse effects actually show up. Maybe some government thug could come bang on your door to take a look around because he thinks you may have drugs or other illicit substances in the house.... In a nutshell, this is a bad rule and needs to be re-written with patient privacy in mind. To make your comments and feelings known, follow the link below: http://erm.hhs.gov:9567/nprm/comments.cfm posted by JM at 9:51 AM

4.24.2002
Another day, another idiot company. Today's moron: Radlight Software. These jokers make a media player that contains the ever present spyware so often found in free and shareware downloads. However, more ominious than any spyware, the media player actually removes programs from your HDD when you install it. That's right. Install Radlight -- delete stuff they don't like on your PC..... Can you believe the nerve of these guys? But givem' credit... their EULA says they will delete stuff if you actually take the time to read it. (Its only 1100 words or so...) In not so many words they tell you that they do not allow you to modify their program at all by uninstalling the spyware they come with. And to that end, they will remove any application that you have installed on your PC to remove spyware. Damn. That really is kind of them to keep you from violating their EULA by removing software from your machine. Fucking assholes. Why can't companies have any ethics? Anyway, write to these assholes if you feel like it and let them know you think they are on th wrong side of this one. Here's the email listed on the site: davenger@radlight.net Or the site itself: radlight.net Link to the original article on Washington Post Newsbytes: http://www.newsbytes.com/news/02/176075.html posted by JM at 10:49 AM