Forbes August 20, 2025
Two thousand years ago, physicians in Egypt documented their patients’ symptoms and treatments on papyrus scrolls. These early medical records served a simple, localized purpose: they supported direct care, were referenced in case discussions, and played a role in medical education. For most of human history, medical documentation was a tool for the physician, with little utility beyond the immediate circle of care. But in the modern era, as records have gone digital, they have transformed into something else entirely: a commodity.
Today, medical records are exchanged, aggregated, analyzed, and monetized at a scale unimaginable in the paper era. Governments, researchers, and corporations alike are tapping into their value. Yet, for all the headlines about billion-dollar data deals and the...
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