Protect Your Medical Privacy

You can visit these sites to see which one might appeal to you. There are also specialty sites geared to your age group, religion, or ethnic group.
After you’ve found a site you like you can post your profile on one of the sites. You’ll want to make your profile interesting and appealing, but don’t oversell (or undersell) yourself. Secondly, be specific about what you want. Tell a little bit about yourself (hobbies, interests, special skills). You can even post a picture of yourself.

When dating, don’t expect too much. Most people e-mail several times before meeting. Your first date should be short and always in a public place. Lastly, you may want to check out your on-line dater. Do they really work at the company they said they did? It’s best to be safe.

Do you have a medical condition that you don’t want anyone to know about? Whether it’s heart disease, high blood pressure, a STD, treatment for alcoholism, mental illness, depression, or HIV, your medical records can end up in the wrong hands, which can cause you embarrassment, financial troubles, and serious problems by forcing you out of a job, or being passed over for a promotion.

The insurance industry wants your information. Any future employers would like to know what’s in your medical records. And any legal action filed by you, or against you can lead to an invasion of your medical privacy. How can you protect yourself? Here are a few tips you can take to protect yourself:

1. Limit the amount of information you give out.
2. Do not sign the customary blanket waiver at your doctor’s office.
3. Be careful when filling out questionnaires at any doctors’ offices.
4. Don’t use public health screenings unless you know the results are kept confidential.
5. Make sure you get a copy of your file before it is sent to any third party.