mastodon - Collegamento all'originale

It's official. After 3 months of back and forth, a major medical provider has elected to drop me as a patient for not having a Google or Apple device.

It is unclear if this is legal, but it is very clearly discriminatory and unethical.

Any tech journalists or lawyers interested in this?

I would like to do anything I can to ensure this never happens to anyone else.

Questa voce è stata modificata (2 anni fa)
in reply to Ben Aveling

mastodon - Collegamento all'originale

Lance R. Vick

@BenAveling @Jennifer There are no medical devices involved.

They said they only willing to communicate, schedule, and exchange medical information with patients with their apple/google mobile app moving forward, even if it means terminating relationships with existing patients.

I even offered to show up in person for every communication, and they refused.

@Ben Aveling @Jennifer
Questa voce è stata modificata (2 anni fa)
in reply to Thomas Phinney

mastodon - Collegamento all'originale

Lance R. Vick

@tphinney @Jennifer Exactly this, and they chose to introduce it months after I became a patient, having known from the outset that I do not have or want a Google or Apple device.

I gave up my smartphone 3 years ago, and am a lot happier being disconnected when I am not at my desk. It would seem some don't consider this a valid lifestyle choice.

This is the first time anyone has refused me services for not having a phone.

@Thomas Phinney @Jennifer
in reply to Glenn Fleishman

mastodon - Collegamento all'originale

M C von Schratz 🏳️‍⚧️

@glennf @adamshostack since this is used for communications and OP is not ingesting the phone, it would not be FDA. HHS would be a better match, or arguably CFPB.
This is discriminatory but potentially not protected. I don’t know health law. Regardless, medical care shouldn’t be locked behind a EULA and noise-making is probably the best route. Best of luck!
@Glenn Fleishman @Adam Shostack
in reply to Glenn Fleishman

mastodon - Collegamento all'originale

Mre. Dartigen [renovator mode]

@nezumih It's not a device issue, it seems it's the clinic itself. Is there a US body that oversees medical providers or administration processes? They'd be the people to go to. Or any insurance regulators - they might not be the exact party causing the issue, but they might be able to point OP to who to make the complaint to.

In most cases here, as far as I'm aware, you have to start with making a formal (in writing) complaint to the clinic first though. I'm presuming OP already has.

@M C von Schratz 🏳️‍⚧️
in reply to joelcrump

mastodon - Collegamento all'originale

Mre. Dartigen [renovator mode]

Adding to other points made, a smartphone also means another device to have to remember and use, keep charged, etc. Accessibility on Android and iOS still has a ton of issues, and these are often at their worst during set up - OP hasn't mentioned these, but they're worth considering in a healthcare context.

If it's over an app as well, you can't just buy the cheapest Android phone, because odds are that won't have the power or the right version to run it (as I learned the hard way once). So that means extra cost in having to buy a sufficiently new model to run that app.

And given how many apps are just a wrapper for a Web page, there is almost no absolute reason for requiring an Android or iOS device specifically - people have mentioned Linux phones and devices too. And hell, Windows exists too. All of these can access a Web page just fine.

Plus, OP was initially told the app was optional.

Questa voce è stata modificata (2 anni fa)
in reply to joelcrump

friendica (DFRN) - Collegamento all'originale

Elena ``of Valhalla''

@joelcrump @Lance R. Vick yes, it is onerous: it requires one to sign up for an account on a service that is designed to collect personal data, with one of the entities that are actively working to ruin computing.

assuming an android or iOS phone with access to the respective app market, as implied by OP's story: I do have a linux phone which does not require such an account and it's really useful, but also wouldn't run that kind of app.

And then there is the whole “accessing sensible stuff from a device that is routinely carried around and easily stolen”

@Lance R. Vick @joelcrump
in reply to Lance R. Vick

mastodon - Collegamento all'originale

Nico Rikken

In Europe we see forcing of duopoly-apps for online identification to banking and government services. Health insurance is likely to be part of it too. At @fsfe @floriansnow started building an overview in an email discussion: lists.fsfe.org/pipermail/discu… We cannot wait until for every type of service one remains having no app. There have to be legal guarantees on providing service to people that reject to give up their privacy and control to Apple or Google. So please find a journalist.

The Discussion February 2024 Archive by thread

lists.fsfe.org
@Florian Snow

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