Several outlets describe a frustrating experience trying to prevent health data from being shared through Epic’s MyChart portal. In the cases reported, patients say they were told they could opt out, but the process was difficult—sometimes involving steps such as obtaining a notary and navigating confusing or inconsistent instructions.
CalMatters and The Markup report accounts in which hospital staff allegedly did not follow or reflect the hospital’s own stated policies. According to those accounts, employees gave incorrect or misleading information, and the opt-out pathway was not handled as described. One patient says they had to take extra, time-consuming actions to make the request effective.
STAT News presents the issue as an opinion piece, focusing on how opaque procedures can frustrate people who want to control their personal health data. Across the coverage, the central difference is emphasis: some focus on specific administrative hurdles (including notarization), while others highlight the broader frustration with how opt-out instructions are communicated and implemented.
