What is a significant consequence of medical identity theft in a patient's record?

Medical identity theft can lead to potential for incorrect treatment decisions, which is a critical concern in healthcare. When a patient's medical identity is stolen, the thief may receive medical services under the victim's name, resulting in false information being recorded in the patient's medical history. This can include incorrect medications, allergies, and past medical procedures. Consequently, when legitimate healthcare providers access the patient’s record, they might inadvertently make treatment decisions based on inaccurate or misleading information. This could put the actual patient at risk, leading to adverse health outcomes.

In this context, while increased healthcare costs and legal challenges are also significant consequences of medical identity theft, the most immediate and dangerous outcome directly affecting patient safety is the potential for incorrect treatment decisions. Therefore, focusing on the risk of these consequences highlights the critical importance of accurate patient records in ensuring safe and effective healthcare delivery.