It was mandated because, in some cases, getting data from the patient is actually harmful. A CT scan is not benign. So to ensure that CT scans from manufacturer A could be read on a review station of manufacturer B, the DICOM standard was created.

But there is a real health element to it. Although I perfectly agree that standards are good for the consumer, the incentives here are not as strong.

There are also similarly a lot of controls mandated on who they cannot give the data to. It isn't like health records are an open free for all.