> I avoid the data leakage for sensitive things like health care by never using websites related to those things. I know that people often forget this, but at least in the US, using a website to interact with health care providers is not actually mandatory.
It is not mandatory but is made extremely onerous. I can get on the web site, authenticate while tracked, enter my request, or I can call an automated maze, get repeatedly dropped, talked to a ChatGPT knock-off, get dropped again, and maybe I get a human to answer my request. Then, I get an email asking if I am satisified with the service.
Interesting. I have to admit, I've never had a problem talking to doctor's offices or the hospitals in my area by phone. No onerous phone trees (just a simple initial menu), no voice robots, and usually only a short wait to talk to a human.
I need to stop complaining about my hospital. Apparently, this is one area where they're above the grade. But even if my phone experience was like yours, I'd still use the phone instead of the web site due to privacy concerns.
In the end, as with all privacy/security issues, there's an inherent tradeoff between convenience and security. Everyone has a different place on that spectrum where they're most comfortable. But at least we can choose how much of a tradeoff we're willing to engage in.
It is not mandatory but is made extremely onerous. I can get on the web site, authenticate while tracked, enter my request, or I can call an automated maze, get repeatedly dropped, talked to a ChatGPT knock-off, get dropped again, and maybe I get a human to answer my request. Then, I get an email asking if I am satisified with the service.