Professional Ethics and Health Law in the Digital Era and the Challenges of Patient Medical Data Protection In Electronic Medical Record System

Abstract

In the digital era, technological developments have brought major changes in the world of health, one of which is through the application of Electronic Medical Records (RME). This system allows for more efficient recording, storage, and access of patient medical data than conventional paper-based medical records. However, despite the benefits, the digitization of medical records poses new challenges, especially in the protection of patient data. The security of medical information is crucial because patient data is sensitive and must be protected from leaks, hacks, and misuse. In this context, medical professional ethics play an important role in ensuring that health workers comply with the principle of confidentiality, in accordance with bioethical standards such as autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. On the other hand, health law has a fundamental role in regulating the protection of patient data in the RME system. Various regulations have been implemented globally, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union, and the Personal Data Protection Law (PDP Law) in Indonesia. This regulation aims to ensure that patient information is not misused and remains safe from cyber threats. However, challenges arise when the implementation of health laws is not balanced with the awareness of medical personnel and health facilities on the importance of regulatory compliance. The lack of cybersecurity infrastructure and weak internal policies in various health institutions further increase the risk of medical data breaches. As a solution, a comprehensive approach is needed to overcome this challenge, ranging from improving data protection policies, strengthening legal regulations, to developing information security technology in the RME system. Healthcare institutions must implement data encryption, multi-factor authentication, as well as strong firewalls to secure patient medical information. In addition, training for medical personnel on cybersecurity awareness and compliance with health laws is essential to prevent data leaks due to human negligence. With the synergy between professional ethics, health law, and more sophisticated security technology, patient data protection in the digital era can be significantly improved, thereby maintaining public trust in digital-based health services.