Ensuring the Integrity of Electronic Health Records
Name
Alvar Ristikivi
Abstract
We are living in an era with an abundance of electronic data, yet the integrity and evidential value of these data are very hard to check. At present the problems like affecting the 2016 presidential elections in the USA or elections in the Europe by (social) media are highly topical. A few years ago such activity seemed completely improbable but it is entirely possible using contemporary means of data manipulation. Big data analysis as well is constantly reaching wider masses. The processing of sensitive genetic and health data has become an everyday issue. However, in order to ensure the complete authenticity of these data, it is necessary to guarantee their evidential value by certifying their initial source.
The initial source can only be certified by adding a digital signature or seal to a document containing health data, which should be done as close to its source as possible. It means that we can later rely on a medical document only if its compiler, the general practitioner, has digitally signed it.
Currently a major concern is that the format of electronic signing is changing and a large number of documents in old format have to be signed again. Thus, a solution should be found to the highly topical problem of how to ensure that the document has the original, unchanged evidential value also many years later.
The initial source can only be certified by adding a digital signature or seal to a document containing health data, which should be done as close to its source as possible. It means that we can later rely on a medical document only if its compiler, the general practitioner, has digitally signed it.
Currently a major concern is that the format of electronic signing is changing and a large number of documents in old format have to be signed again. Thus, a solution should be found to the highly topical problem of how to ensure that the document has the original, unchanged evidential value also many years later.
Graduation Thesis language
English
Graduation Thesis type
Master - Cyber Security
Supervisor(s)
MSc Jaan Priisalu, PhD Raimundas Matulevičius
Defence year
2018