Add an "In Case of Emergency option" (feature request)

[ghost]

It could be very useful (but absolutely not mandatory) to fill some information in case of emergency (for example a traffic accident) to display on the welcome screen.

See on iOS or Android.

• Name;
• Birthday;
• Address;
• Emergency contact (can also be used if the device is lost);
• Blood type;
• Medical conditions;
• Medications;
• Allergies & reactions;
• Organ donor;
• Etc.

Through the System settings > About me (or Security & privacy)?

[Flohack74]

Hmm how you guarantee that this information is not abused by someone in the bar next to you when you dont look at your phone all the time? This is a privacy issue, and you wont find many ppl in the Ubuntu Touch community that would like to go this way I think.

[ghost]

This is a good point, perhaps we should limit the functionality to a "lost and found" contact?

To feed the discussion, below are some other drawbacks (please feel free to complete with your researches so it can be used as a Q&A):

[ghost]

The cell phone has to remain with the victim (or otherwise be identifiable as his) in order to be of use. While most wallets and purses will contain some items bearing photographs that can be matched to their owners (such as driver’s licenses), a cell phone doesn’t necessarily provide any direct means of identifying its owner. And while any form of ID can become separated from the person bearing it, a cell phone is an object frequently carried in hand, greatly increasing the chances of its loss in an accident.

A cell phone can be damaged to the point that information stored in (or through) it is no longer retrievable. This is also true of other forms of identification (a piece of paper or a card can be rendered unreadable by fire or water damage), but non-electronic devices will generally survive falls or impacts that might otherwise render cell phones non-functional.

Cell phones come in many different brands and varieties, and how to retrieve stored information may not be immediately apparent to someone trying to work with an unfamiliar type of phone. As well, many cell phone users secure their phones with PINs to prevent unauthorized use, a factor which could conceivably block any attempts by emergency personnel to retrieve information from them.

Source: Fact Check

[ghost]

Passing on information about an accident is a highly sensitive task that needs to be carried out with the utmost professionalism and is rarely done on the mobile phone. Most of the time, these messages are transmitted to relatives for psychological reasons by the doctor in the clinic, by the policeman at his own door or by trained personnel in the ambulance service. [...] crisis intervention teams [...] are specially qualified for tasks such as notification of a major accident or even death.

In addition, there is no time for rescuers to inform relatives during a mission, as the helpers are focused on the well-being of the patient and the preservation of vital functions.

Last but not least, it can not be ruled out that the ICE numbers will be misused by third parties.

Source: ASB (in German)

[ghost]

Actually, one has to be concerned whether the patient information on any medical ID [...] is up to date and accurate. If it’s not accurate, it could potentially confuse care providers and lead to more errors in care.

The problem with this seemingly apparent benefit is that the paramedic should not assume an unresponsive person who is a diabetic is hypoglycemic; other causes should be considered and evaluated. Likewise, hypoglycemia should be considered and tested for in an unresponsive person who is not known to be a diabetic.

The same considerations I mentioned for the unresponsive diabetic applies to these cardiac conditions. For example, some patients with pacemakers or ICDs should not get MRIs. If an MRI is indicated on a patient that cannot give a history, it is the responsibility of the radiologists and technicians to make sure that the patient has not had an implant that would put them at risk. Thus, a careful search of the body for signs of surgery is warranted, with a standard Xray if an implant is suspected.

[...] “self-declaration” of patient illnesses and allergies may worsen outcomes [...] and [...] medical ID information is not vetted by doctors.

Source: The Skeptical Cardiologist

[ghost]

For example, in the context of antimicrobial therapy, ~ 10% of the general population in the UK claim to have a penicillin allergy; however, only < 1% truly have an adverse immunological drug reaction. Many patients could thus be denied the most effective treatment for their infection through a misunderstanding.

[...] the clinical team may be regarded as responsible for identifying or locating any ID that may exist, and then also acting upon its instructions.

Source: Anaesthasia