Final answer:
Physicians or healthcare institutions own medical records, but patients have the right to access their information. Privacy and accessibility are balanced through laws like HIPAA and with safeguards such as encryption for electronic records. Developing policies must address cost-efficiency, quality of life, and privacy protection.
Step-by-step explanation:
In regard to who owns medical records, it's essential to clarify that while physicians and healthcare providers maintain the physical or electronic records, the information within those records belongs to the patient. Therefore, the correct answer is B. The physician or healthcare institution typically maintains the custody of medical records, but this does not negate the patient's rights to access their personal health information under laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which ensures patient privacy and control over their health information.
Developing policies to address the balance between costs, patient quality of life, and individual privacy involves asking critical questions such as:
- How can we ensure that the costs associated with treatments and diagnoses do not compromise the quality of care provided to patients?
- What measures can be implemented to improve the quality of life for patients while protecting their privacy in a digital age?
- In what ways can patients' privacy be safeguarded against breaches when their medical records are shared among health providers?
In the context of exceptions to the Freedom of Information Act, it is reasonable to exclude medical records for government employees to protect sensitive personal information.