1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

The NIH's plan to amass private medical records from various federal and commercial sources raises serious privacy concerns. Compiling such a vast trove of sensitive health data without robust safeguards risks jeopardizing patient confidentiality on an unprecedented scale. While research is vital, it must not come at the expense of Americans' fundamental right to medical privacy. I urge you to advocate for stringent data protection measures and transparent oversight mechanisms to prevent misuse or unauthorized access to these records. Prioritizing privacy and earning public trust is crucial for any initiative involving personal health information. The potential benefits of this research do not justify compromising the medical privacy of millions of people without their explicit consent.