The Federal Trade Commission announced electronic health records company Practice Fusion has settled with the agency over claims it mislead customers by asking for reviews of its doctors without telling customers the reviews would be made public, resulting in the disclosure of sensitive medical data. “Practice Fusion’s actions led consumers to share incredibly sensitive health information without realizing it would be made public,” said Jessica Rich, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Companies that collect personal health information must be clear about how they will use it — especially before posting such information publicly on the internet.” In its settlement with the FTC, Practice Fusion is prohibited from making deceptive statements about the privacy and confidentiality of consumer information it collects, while requiring consumer opt-in before disclosing any information in the future.
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