What are acceptable uses of medical data?

The Economist recently published an article discussing both the beneficial and deleterious ways governments can use health data. Using Britain's NHS as an example, the article argues that collection and analysis of this data could lead to research breakthroughs and exposure of malpractice, but misuse of this data could lead to insurance discrimination and a deterioration of trust in public institutions. Interestingly, the article creates an analogy between collection of health data and nuclear power - arguing that both could be positive or negative, depending on their use.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/blighty/2014/03/patient-data