I think it is easier to make private information public, than it is to make public information private.

We can mitigate that sort of failure with things like medical bracelets (http://www.mediband.co.uk/). Paramedics check for medical bracelet, necklace and wallet information cards. One of the first words any medical staff will ask is about allergies.

I recognize that that is hardly ideal and indeed some lives are undoubtedly lost because of it. But I think going public with medical records is too far.