It’s no secret that I’m not the biggest fan of FREE* business models in the world of online healthcare. As a good example of the issues this CNET story by Declan McCullagh is worth following as it illustrates the privacy issues that are opened when a web magazine community enters federal bankruptcy proceedings.
Of course bankruptcy proceedings are nothing new in the world of dotcom’s but in this case the information (contact details and sensitive personal information belonging to gay youths aged 13-17 years old) is the only real asset remaining and it’s somewhat analogous (in terms of sensitivity) to the personal health information and stories being collected by online patient community sites.
While I hope it never happens, I wonder how long before a FREE* Health 2.0 community faces a similar fate and is challenged to put names, addresses, e-mail addresses, personal stories, and other information about patients into their creditors’ hands?