All forms of written communication involve an element of risk that information could be read by someone other than the intended recipient. The risks of using unsecured or unencrypted email include:
- emails can easily be sent to the wrong recipient
- email is often accessed on portable devices, such as smart phones, tablets and laptops, which are easily lost or stolen
- emails can be forwarded or changed without the knowledge or consent of the original sender
- email is vulnerable to interception.
Because of the risks of email and fax communication, the RACGP has long been a strong advocate for the use of secure electronic communications as the most efficient and appropriate method of communication across the healthcare sector.