The right to privacy of personal information in the inpatient/outpatient care forms and the authorization form for outpatient procedures (APAC)

Abstract

Objective- This article addresses the content of personal information contained in the authorization form for outpatient procedures (APAC) to shed light on whether the personal information contained in the form harms the citizens' right to privacy. Methods - A bibliographic review was carried out in the SciELO and Virtual Health Library (VHL) databases by applying the descriptors: information system, information, health, database, right to privacy, privacy, intimacy and secrecy. No specific time criteria were established when consulting the databases.  Furthermore, the Access to Information Act served as the main parameter for analyzing the data. Results - Being part of the information related to the consultations reported in the APAC, personal information allows the State to compile knowledge about the epidemiological profile of the population.  As a result, the evaluation of the epidemiological profile fosters the implementation of new public health policies that fulfill the citizen’s expectations. Conclusion: There is no harm to the right of privacy related to the data collected under the APAC.