Surveillance in epilepsy - how Epi-Care protects data and privacy
Many people with epilepsy and their relatives feel insecure and are afraid to miss a seizure - especially at night. The simple solution would be an epilepsy alarm that registers seizures and alerts parents or caregivers. However, the questions often asked are: how much monitoring and control are appropriate? Is an epilepsy alarm too invasive of privacy?
This article explains the aspects of monitoring in Epi-Care products.
Freedom or surveillance?
For many, the idea of buying an epilepsy alarm device is linked to a discussion of privacy and surveillance. There is the fear that with a technical device, the user is controlled too much and privacy massively invaded. On the other hand, it should of course be prevented that epileptic seizures remain undetected which, for example, increases the risk of a status epilepticus with serious damage.
What do the Epi-Care products register and save?
The Epi-Care technology is based on detecting movements. The devices therefore transmit neither video nor sound but register the typical movements of a tonic-clonic seizure, whereupon they alert the carer. In contrast to, for example, a baby monitor, which massively interferes with the freedom of the user, since image and sound are transmitted permanently, Epi-Care can only determine whether a seizure is present and not what the person is doing. Thus, the privacy is protected.
In addition, the data of everyday movements are not saved. The log only provides an overview of the seizures so that, for example, a doctor can use the information, and also data about the device itself is shown, such as battery charge and setting changes.
Also to mention is the freedom of carers. They do not have to constantly watch a screen, listen to noises, or personally check to see if everything is alright.
Privacy restrictions without Epi-Care
Overall, it can be said that without an Epi-Care epilepsy alarm, the privacy of those affected is even more limited, as personal monitoring and constant controls disturb them. With baby monitor or other monitoring in the form of video and sound transmission can always be tracked, what the affected people do. At night, people often sleep in the same room as e.g. parents or are awakened by controls at night.
These invasions of privacy can be reduced by the use of Epi-Care epilepsy alarms. It therefore offers more freedom for all involved, plus increased security.
Data protection and safety
As personal data such as phone numbers is stored and information about seizures is recorded, privacy and security play a major role in epilepsy alarms. Epi-Care products protect and secure the data because unlike in other products, they are not stored in a cloud. There is no access to the data such as an online account where you can log in and view your data. The data are stored exclusively in the device itself. Thus, neither Danish Care Technology nor hackers can access it externally.
