We recently reported that Penn State is planning to charge smokers and others on their faculty more for health insurance. Now let’s take a closer look at the invasive questions faculty members are forced to answer on WebMD as part of the school’s new health policy.

Matthew Woessner of The Patriot News reports.

PSU’s punitive new health policy is an invasion of privacy: As I See It

Believing it is somehow linked to its ongoing budget problems, Penn State administrators recently announced a new healthcare initiative that requires all employees to complete an intimate medical survey through WebMD.

Those who fail to comply will be fined $100 per month. Sure of their good intentions, university officials are blind to the ethical ramifications of an employer forcing employees to hand over extremely private information to the world’s largest medical website.

Still worse, administrators seem astonished by the outrage of employees, who recognize the need to control cost, but can’t understand why doing so necessitates disclosing their intimate medical secrets.

To fully appreciate the personal nature of this mandatory WebMD survey, consider the wide range of questions included in the medical history, and ask yourself how you would feel if your employer forced you to register this information online. Page 1 of the questionnaire asks standard medical questions: height, weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol. Then things get really personal.

The second page asked about illnesses like, arthritis, cancer, depression, colon polyps, and migraines. The third page examines medical procedures including colonoscopy, digital rectal exam, and prostate screenings. The fourth page queries diet, tobacco use, drinking and my favorite “How many times in the last 6 months did you drive when you had too much to drink?” On page five, employees are asked about using illegal narcotics. Another page inquires about feelings of hopelessness, persistent sadness, or anxiety.

Finally, WebMD probes employee’s personal lives asking about troubles with family, friends, or coworkers, including a death in the family, divorce, financial problems, or violence.