The purpose of this assignment is to examine the role technology plays in health care ethics.

Though  technology, in its increasing ubiquity, largely serves to simplify and  make more convenient many daily processes, the extent to which people  use and are reliant on technology means that the potential for a  vulnerable attack is also heightened. Health care technology has made  massive strides in improving quality patient care, making telehealth  more accessible to the masses, and cutting down on unnecessary costs.  But the more data are digitized, the greater the probability of a  breach.

Imagine a scenario in which it was discovered that a  company producing wearable fitness-tracking devices had been selling  confidential consumer data to the consumers’ health insurance company.  Based off of the data consumers had been entering in their  fitness-tracking app, this third-party insurance company was then able  to suggest health and life insurance plans that would best meet the  needs of their clients.

In a paper of 500-750 words, address the following points:

1. How  is this scenario an example of an ethics breach? In what ways were both  entities responsible for violating consumer confidentiality?
2. What consequences might both companies face as a result of this breach?
3. Moving  forward, what changes would the health insurance company need to  implement in order to ensure that their communications with customers  and corporations comply with HIPAA?
4. Suppose that a customer had  updated a health insurance plan based off of a recommendation made by  the insurance company, founded on information received illicitly from  the fitness-tracking company. If the customer had a medical emergency  that required the use of that added health insurance coverage, is the  insurance company still in the wrong? Is the fitness-tracking company  still in the wrong? If the misuse of customer data helped to save a  patient’s life, was there still a breach of ethics? Explain your  position.
5. How will a renewed commitment by both corporations to  honor the confidentiality of customer information serve to promote the  common good? How is ethical decision making within a business setting  consistent with the Christian worldview (CWV)?

Prepare  this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style  Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not  required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric  prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the  expectations for successful completion.

This assignment assesses the following programmatic competency:

BS Health Care Administration

2.3:      Identify appropriate practices regarding respectful and confidential communication in compliance with HIPAA.