The Ethics and Laws of Medical Big Data

  • Hrefna Dögg Gunnarsdóttir
  • , I. Glenn Cohen
  • , Timo Minssen
  • , Sara Gerke

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted that leveraging medical big data can help to better predict and control outbreaks from the outset. However, there are still challenges to overcome in the 21st century to efficiently use medical big data, promote innovation and public health activities and adequately protect individuals’ privacy. The metaphor that property is a “bundle of sticks” applies equally to medical big data. Understanding medical big data in this way raises a number of questions, including: Who has the right to make money off its buying and selling, or is it inalienable? When does medical big data become sufficiently stripped of identifiers that the rights of an individual concerning the data disappear? How have different regimes such as the General Data Protection Regulation in Europe and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act in the US answered these questions differently? In this chapter, we will discuss three topics: (1) privacy and data sharing, (2) informed consent, and (3) ownership.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationThe Cambridge Handbook of Information Technology, Life Sciences and Human Rights
EditorsMarcello Ienca, Oreste Pollicino, Laura Liguori, Elisa Stefanini, Roberto Andorno
Place of PublicationCambridge
PublisherCambridge University Press
Pages48-55
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9781108775038
ISBN (Print)9781108477833
DOIs
StatePublished - 2022
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameCambridge Law Handbooks

Keywords

  • Big Data
  • COVID-19
  • Data Sharing
  • EU Law
  • Ethics
  • Informed Consent
  • Medicine
  • Ownership
  • Privacy
  • US Law

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Social Sciences

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The Ethics and Laws of Medical Big Data'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this