While it would be entirely inappropriate to inform a researcher that Brian, aged 50, living in London has prostate cancer without first seeking his permission, it is both appropriate and extremely beneficial for the progress of medical research to know that 50 year old men with prostate cancer who take medication A live for longer than those on medication B. However, while individual health privacy needs to be robustly defended, this does not necessarily mean that health data can’t be aggregated and securely anonymised to further medical and social research. We need to continue to defend doctor-patient confidentiality, because without it, patient care and outcomes will certainly suffer due to fear of who might find out what is disclosed. What if I wanted to talk to my doctor about experiencing domestic violence, or a weird discharge, or how I’m feeling hopeless and depressed? What if that very private information could be transmitted elsewhere to be used by people I don’t know for purposes I haven’t been informed of? My initial response is no thanks.Īs a GP I am well versed in navigating individual health privacy considerations it’s common for a patient to want to know what their partner told me in their consult, or for an insurance company to seek access to a patient’s whole records regardless of what is actually relevant.Įven though it is illegal and unethical for me to disclose private medical information without permission, it’s common for patients to check that I won’t tell anyone else before they disclose something they feel is private, embarrassing or shameful.
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