There is a debate in the technical world that has its members divided. While information technology systems could greatly help doctors and patients in the medical industry, some say the threat of hacking is too high.

Some feel that hospitals would not be able to keep patient information secure, other say that with the right software and security measures, patient information can be just as secure as it is today.

While it is true that identity theft can be fixed, and the subsequent credit or financial damages repaired, the same may not be said for medical information. Once someone has stolen your records, there’s really nothing else you can do.

The advocates for such systems in our hospitals often argue that the number of deaths per year due to medical mistakes in the U.S.—between 44,000-98,000—could be prevented by new technology.