A Few Words About Consent Forms

Although you might already have signed a consent form, one can still lodge a medical malpractice claim if a doctor or surgeon's neglect caused you or a loved one harm. By placing your signature to an agreement form, you're surely not expecting or allowing your regular doctor or any other health care professional to commit medical malpractice.

The intention of such a form is to record and authenticate that you had been given the chance to talk about all of your medical-related possibilities, ask questions about the treatments and medications and get comprehensive familiarity with the risks and difficulties linked to your surgical procedures or additional medical treatment.

Your medical professional will need to cover the following factors before obtaining your permission: your diagnosis or most likely diagnosis; the purpose of and steps involved in the operation, treatments or other course of action; the ideal results and the dangers implicated; any options other than the operation, remedy or procedure, in spite of money or lack of insurance; the benefits as well as the risks of your alternatives to certain operations, treatment methods or procedure; and the benefits and consequences regarding opting out of any medical treatment. The physician is additionally in charge of being sure that the individual or their approved advocate understands what they are being told before he or she signs a consent form.

The individual as well plays a role in the whole process of educated consent by listening closely and asking questions should they expect more details. As an example, if your primary health practitioner attempts to get a person's informed consent for heart surgery right after telling you that you have premature ventricular contraction, you might like to inquire about an explanation in terms you can understand.

Your physician, nurse, or surgeon will be required to meet a certain quality of due care that isn't abandoned by the individual putting their signature to any informed consent form.

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How Much Privacy Are Internet and Computer Users Really Afforded?

What's that famous line in all the spy movies where the CIA agent reminds another character as events occur and conflicts arise; "Trust No One!" Well, my friends judging by how social networking is shaping up, I'd say the Internet is also on that list. Why you ask? Because there are people, humans, and you know, there are folks everywhere behind the scenes making it work and deciding which way it has to evolve. There is a lot of money and value in information and big data, it is big business - it means power and control of over every individual, country, and yes, even the world - seriously. Okay, let's discuss this one shall we?

According to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) in a Wall Street Journal article on March 27, 2012 titled; "Regulators Urge Web Privacy Rules" by Julia Angwin; "Simply put, your computer is your property. No one has the right to put anything on [your computer] that you don't want."

Okay thanks for that clarification, but please answer another question for me if you will; if the advertisers and marketers cannot track you, does that mean that only the government can?

Now then, you might say to me, "Lance, give it a rest and stop listening to Conspiracy Theory Talk Shows like Coast-to-Coast AM every night," and yes, I get that debating point, truly I do, still, just because the American People aren't paranoid doesn't mean they aren't looking at everything you are doing. It's almost as if Big Data and Big Brother are working together to replace the "Spirit in The Sky" when you die or so Norman Greenbaum says.

Next, in case you aren't on the EFF Electronic Freedom Foundation email list, why not read this article posted on March 30, 2012 in the New York Times titled; "Conflict Over How Open 'Do Not Track' Talks Will Be," by Edward Wyatt and Tanzina Vega which stated; "Technology companies want to talk with the government about protecting privacy on the Internet. They just want those talks to be private."

Fine, more private government meetings, this after President Obama allots some $200 million in his budget for "Big Data" and more government "clouds" and data centers, along with the proverbial national security issues and anti-cyber warfare campaign. So, it's readily obvious to me, and realize I am on the side of the "good guys" but it is still obvious to me that we are going to track everyone, and keep all the data in a giant data center storage in Utah somewhere from the reports I've been reading, no not on Art Bell's Coast-to-Coast Website.

Personally, I've been observing humans in their natural habitat some four and a half centuries, and seriously, I'm not sure if I can trust one of them, well, except myself. And when it comes to groups of humans involved in making money, politics, Machiavellian rule, or crony capitalism - hmm? Doubtful. Indeed, I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

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How Can an Identity Thief Obtain and Use Your Personal Digital Profile?

A person needs to understand the scope of information that is maintained in his or her "personal digital profile". It contains all of the electronic data and information that has been input, processed and stored by you and about you. Usually the data is stored across wide-spread databases. The vast majority of your confidential information can be rapidly accessed and is inter-related. The ability to search, identify and combine the data is what makes computers a blessing and a curse.

An identity thief that has targeted you begins with a certain set of data. How complete that information is depends upon how careful you have been with your confidential information. Listed below are a number of resources an identity thief can check:

1. Confidential information contained on your computer

Malicious users can conduct "port scans" on your computer to determine if entry can be gained into your computer. A successful intruder can install a "key-logger" and record everything you enter (passwords, bank account numbers, etc.) and gain access to additional information. The chances are that an invasion of this type would quickly allow a criminal to steal your identity.

2. Information that you freely give up on social media sites and share with others

Users of social media should shudder to consider the information being heaped into their personal digital identity. Friends and contacts can also share information about you without your knowledge. So it is possible that identity thieves can obtain large quantities of useful information about you without your being aware.

3. Commercial background checking organizations

Search the Internet for the phrase "background checks". You'll be amazed at the number of sites that allow individuals to conduct background checks. Examine the varied information that the companies can provide. These include: telephone numbers, address, place of work, marital status, age, sex, date of birth, the names of spouses and children and even the names of neighbors. They can also determine organization to which you belong.

Liens and judgments filed against you can be discovered checking public records. Real estate information (property owned and their values and taxes) and any businesses of record that you own are also available.

4. Commercial search engines that may contain personal information of which you might be unaware

Have you searched for yourself on the Internet? You might be amazed to learn how much is out there. If, however, you find very little there are numerous other ways ID thieves can obtain your private information, some of which are listed in this article.

5. "Cookies" placed on your computer

Cookies are small text files written to your computer to track your online movements. They can reveal your personal preferences and other information. Should that information fall into the wrong hands it could be used by identity thieves.

6. Discarding storage media without permanently erasing, degaussing or destroying it

Computer disks indefinitely retain the information that is written upon them. Many people sell or discard their old computers (or computing devices) believing that erasing the files means they are gone. Very little could be further from the truth. A skilled thief can restore deleted files. Identity thieves literally shop the Internet for used computers to obtain confidential records.

You should know that privacy for all of us is lost. Whatever "tidbit" or "morsel" of electronic information that exists about you can be accessed and cross-referenced with any other data set. Conduct your electronic life on the computer carefully. Making purchases on the Internet, social media and on-line banking all represent serious vulnerabilities.

© Alliant Digital Services, 2011

Your Personal Finances Are at Risk: Prevent Identity Theft   Stop Identity Theft With Five Tips   Stop Fraud in Five Easy Steps: The Ultimate Identity Theft Protection Guide   Tips for Not Becoming an Identity Fraud Victim