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Comment by kotaKat | Hacker News Reader

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Government-issued IDs work and human verification of them is largely successful. This is not about correct verification, it’s about cheap machine-based verification. The dehumanization of it is part of how they plan to make money.

So yes verification is needed. We can do that just fine without more facial recognition intruding into everyday affairs.

I was trying to think what the least intrusive option here would be. You need to verify that the patient has ID matching their name and face, which could be done offline by a notary or other trusted party if a patient prefers.

But you also need to confirm the person showing up for the online sessions is actually the verified patient, and I'm not sure how you do that to maximize privacy. I guess you could take a photo at the in-person verification, have the medical provider sign off that it's the same person as their patient, and then destroy the photo?

Right, it’s a hairball. And all to enable a remote-first, VC-backed business model. Most people would rather see doctors in person.

I definitely know people who prefer online therapy because they have a busy schedule or live far from a therapist who meets their needs (e.g., people in rural areas).

Some people also prefer online visits for other care, usually things they can self-diagnose: a recurring sinus infection, erectile dysfunction, hair loss, etc.

I've done telehealth from multiple providers and they've never required a biometric scan. If this is "of course" then why would that be?

Every user of Headway is required to submit to this, regardless of medication status, or they lose access to the platform (and their therapist).

HN has come a long way if we’re considering it a nothing burger that sending scans of your face to a 3rd party verification company is required to not lose access to your healthcare provider.

wait - even for interactions with non-prescribers? that's even less defensible!

HN is filled with the most ridiculous nonsense, hence my username.

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