Protecting reproductive health information in the post-Roe era: interoperability strategies for healthcare institutions.

This article examines the risks posed to patients and healthcare providers by electronic health record (EHR) interoperability in the aftermath of the June 24, 2022, US Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which ended constitutional protections for abortion and led to widely varying state restrictions. It highlights how interoperable health data—including pregnancy and abortion-related information—can expose individuals to social stigma and legal jeopardy, especially in states with severe abortion restrictions. The article outlines specific institutional strategies to mitigate these risks, such as reducing the specificity of pregnancy and abortion documentation, treating such information as highly sensitive, revising data sharing policies, protecting patient identity, and counseling patients about digital privacy. It emphasizes that healthcare institutions have significant control over documentation, data sharing, and counseling practices and should actively protect patient privacy to ensure safe and legal care within the evolving legal landscape.