Microsoft, WellPoint pursue paperless prescriptions

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What about liability?

At present, if the doctor or pharmacist make a mistake in either prescibing or delivering medicine, they are laible for the error. What responsibility does Microsoft or WellPoint take for any error caused by their system?

All the EULA's I've read specifically exclude the software vendor from any liability what-so-ever. Is the EULA for this system any different?

If Microsoft and WellPoint are giving these things away, where are they making their money on this deal? I don't believe they are doing this for the betterment of mankind, so where is the money coming from?

According to the report referenced in the story:

"Nationwide implementation of these technologies could prevent more than 2.1 million adverse drug events and 190,000 needless hospitalizations a year by reducing medical errors."

The numbers just don't add up. $29 billion (the supposed cost of not doing e-prescriptions) divided by 2.1 million adverse events is $13,800 per event. Yet the supposed saving per employee is only $34 to $79 for employers. Even if we divide $29 billion by the 250 million US citizens, that's $166 each, still double what the apparent saving is. Is the US health system really that incompetent at delivering healthcare?

It may help to note that the report was produced by the eHealth Initiative, whose job is to implement e-prescriptions, a vested interest not revealed in the story).

Posted by: Fred Fredrickson   Posted on: 04/29/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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