From: Alan Horowitz <alanh@infi.net>
Date: Sat, 1 Jun 1996 16:10:50 +0800
To: Lucky Green <shamrock@netcom.com>
Subject: Re: Statistical analysis of anonymous databases
In-Reply-To: <v02120d14add55f5f9a05@[192.0.2.1]>
Message-ID: <Pine.SV4.3.91.960601005207.7211D-100000@larry.infi.net>
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> In medical research, third party audit, i.e., the Department of Health and
> Human Services, is often required. A simple pseudonym picked by the patient
> won't do.

   It's not clear to me that the second sentence follows from the first.

   All the time, in medical or official identification situations 
(clearances,  weapons permits, etc) I'm asked how tall I am. I can't 
remember ever being measured. Thus, the answer I give about my height, 
might as well be "made up" by me.

I guess they do have to bother measuring homocide victims - they can't 
talk......