USD Magazine, Summer-Fall 1993

"I think it's a travesty that we have la say in aur medical lacl sheet that ii yau truly want privacy, ga

Another piece of information that should be guarded closely is your Social Security number. "That is the key to personal information about you," Givens says. With the account number on your check and your Social Security number, for instance, someone with a knowledge of electronic banking ser– vices might be able to gain access to your bank account. "That duo of infor– mation is deadly if it gets into the wrong hands," she says. In spite of the heightened technology and the many layers of communication being shared in the public domain, you can take steps to protect your privacy. (See related story on Page 8.) The PRC advises everyone to practice the three A's. BE AWARE: Be aware of the ways you are giving out your personal infor– mation and monitor that information. BE ASSERTIVE: Ask why someone is requesting certain information and what is going to be done with it. Ask that the information not be used for purposes other than the one at hand. BE AN ADVOCATE: Tell your legislators you want better protection. Most important, when it comes to giving out your private information, know that you have the right to remain silent. Editor's Note: The University of San Diego has a strict policy of protecting infonnation concerning all its con– stituents. The university does not sell or distribute mailing lists, and information regarding students, alumni, parents and fri ends of the university is considered con– fidential. It is not released to any agency or individual. T o maintain your association with USD, it is important to keep the alumni office updated with your current address.

la analher daclar and pay in cash:'

The PRC also is getting its phone number placed in referral directories and is making itself known to referral ser– vices. The PRC was originally funded by a one-year grant from the Telecommuni– cations Education Trust, which was established by the California Public Utilities Commission. In July, the trust awarded the PRC a second grant that provides funding through February 1995. In the meantime, the information provided by the PRC will make Califor– nians much less vulnerable. insurance system is set up right now," she explains, "if you have a medical record that shows you have a serious illness or disabili– ty, it would be difficult-if not impossi– ble-for you to get insurance in the future." The reason is simple. Insurance com– panies might collect your medical infor– mation and place it in a centralized database-the Medical Information Bureau. "If you happen to be in that database and you have a condition that is serious," Givens says, "that informa– tion will be shared with other insurance companies." Of course, this wouldn't be an issue if we had universal health care in the United States, she adds, but that's another issue. "I think it's a travesty that we have to say in our medical fact sheet that if you truly want privacy, go to another doctor and pay in cash." ne of the areas in which the public is most vu lnerable is in medical information, Givens says. "The way the health

ust winding up its first year of operation, the PRC is ready to expand its outreach. Staff mem– bers have translated all of the fact sheets into Spanish, and they are getting the word out that they have Spanish-speaking staff on the hotline as well. ''I'll get on the phone and [the caller] will say, 'It's so much easier to tell you my concern in Spanish,"' Terrazas says. "We've gotten a lot of positive feedback." Terrazas is continuing to spread the word through Spanish-language radio and television stations and newspapers. The PRC also is reaching out to African-American, Asian and other cul– turally diverse or non-English-speaking communities by contacting community– based organizations. They have sent information to several hundred organiza– tions on the PRC mailing list and shared information with other outreach organi– zations such as Consumer Action, which in turn reaches about 1,000 community– based and social service organizations in California. The PRC recently completed mailings to all the libraries in the state, to city attorneys and district attorney offices concerned with consumer fraud work, Better Business Bureau offices and legal-aid offices that serve low– income residents.