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From: taylor@hplabsc.UUCP
Newsgroups: mod.comp-soc
Subject: Re: Records Accessability
Message-ID: <1111@hplabsc.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 14-Jan-87 14:30:47 EST
Article-I.D.: hplabsc.1111
Posted: Wed Jan 14 14:30:47 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 16-Jan-87 03:46:12 EST
Reply-To: hplabs!munnari!runx.runx.oz!ronn
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Laboratories
Lines: 22
Approved: taylor@hplabs
Reference: <958@hplabsc.UUCP>

This article is from munnari!runx.oz!ronn (Ron Newton)
 and was received on  Wed Jan 14 06:48:24 1987
 
A past employer must be extremely careful when approached by a third party 
for a reference. They leave themselves open to be sued by the person on whom 
they comment. A careful employer or other person who is approached for a 
reference would usually comment that they cannot give one.

Medical records are in most cases confidential. Your doctor (including a 
hospital can not divulge information without your permission or a court order.

Financial records fall into another category. They are in part public property 
and as you are no doubt aware are kept by a number of companies who provide 
a subscription service.  However, as far as I am aware, if you are refused 
credit because of a detrimental report then you have the right to request a 
copy of the report and if the information is incorrect the company maintaining 
the data base is legally bound to correct the information.

Note: I am not a lawyer. This is only my own interpretation of the law.

[and with this, I think we can safely wrap up this discussion, or at
 least this particular thread...			-- Dave]