"Get used to sharing health information" – Health Law and Regulation Unit launches

The Health Law and Regulation Unit launches on June 17, and seeks to address the growing challenges posed where law, regulation and medical provision meet

People should get used to sharing their health information, says Lord David Alliance Professor of Bioethics, John Harris as he prepares to officially launch University of Liverpool’s Health Law and Regulation Unit.

Professor Harris believes “the dangers of not making this sort of information accessible in healthcare are probably greater in health terms and personal terms” than doing so.

care.data

Professor Harris, also Director of the Institute for Science, Ethics and Innovation at University of Manchester, will deliver a talk entitled The Value of Life: Age, Information and Obligation in Healthcare as he opens the new unit, which aims to address the growing challenges posed where law, regulation and medical provision meet.

His lecture is particularly timely, as the Government’s controversial care.data plans are rolled out. The scheme sees GPs sharing patients’ personal information with a central NHS database, which is then stored alongside each NHS number, date of birth, postcode and gender.

People are allowed to opt out of the scheme, but Professor Harris will tell those attending the launch: “It is simply not possible to control access to this information and I suggest we have to get used to it. We don’t have to be quite so anxious.”

Those in favour of greater sharing argue it is crucial to do so because there is a chronic shortage of good information about the health conditions and complaints that GPs see.

But many have reservations and have expressed concerns that private companies could use the database and compromise patient privacy. They also argue that it could harm patient trust in the confidentiality of GP consultations.

Addressing the issues

This is why Professor Harris believes the establishment of a unit containing expertise in healthcare, as well as law and regulation, could help address some of the issues raised.

Professor Harris added: “We cannot control our health information. It’s not possible, it’s never been possible and I’m going to remind people why it’s never been possible.

“We can gather a lot of information just by looking at people; their age, gender and even relative life expectancy.

“This information cannot be controlled, even if we wanted to. It’s a myth.”

The launch of the University of Liverpool’s Health Law and Regulation Unit takes place at the Chapel in the University of Liverpool’s Foresight Centre on Tuesday June 17, from 5.30pm, with a networking event to follow from 6.30pm. The event is free, but places are limited. Please visit http://www.liv.ac.uk/law/events/event/63430 to book