Confidentiality, Privacy, and Data Protection in Biomedicine: International Concepts and Issues

Featuring contributions from leading scholars of health privacy law, this important volume offers insightful reflection on issues such as confidentiality, privacy, and data protection, as well as analysis in how a range of jurisdictions--including the US, the UK, Europe, South Africa, and Australia--navigate a rapidly developing biomedical environment.

While the collection of personal health information offers the potential to drive research and innovation, it also generates complex legal and ethical questions in how this information is used to ensure the rights and interests of individuals and communities are respected. But in many ways laws have struggled to keep pace with technological developments. This book therefore seeks to fill a lacuna for legal insight and reflection. Over three parts, the book first explores the conceptual landscape which law and legal institutions must contend, and then turns to examine practical issues such as the GDPR, secondary use of data for research, genomic research, and data trusts.

With cutting-edge analysis drawing on domestic and international case law, legislation, and policy, this comprehensive volume will prove fascinating reading for all students and researchers interested in this evolving and contentious area of study.

Dr Edward Dove is a Reader in Health Law and Regulation at Edinburgh Law School and a Deputy Director of the J Kenyon Mason Institute for Medicine, Life Sciences and Law.