Consumers need to consider the risks. Use email judiciously. Though it's unlikely, email messages to a doctor could be intercepted. Set limits on the issues you discuss, keeping those you consider potentially damaging or embarrassing off-line. And don't use your work-related email account to discuss personal medical issues.
Employers do have a right to inspect messages that move through their systems.
Finally, there may be some things you want to discuss with your physician by email, but would prefer not to end up in your general medical record. Discuss your doctor's email policy in advance and suggest that appropriate emails be summarized for your record, rather than appearing there verbatim. Most web sites use the information to set your preferences and make their pages easier to use. But others collect the information and deliver it to personal database managers. Adjust the cookie preferences on your computer to alert you if one is being set.