http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-independ ... 26111.htmlThe Independent View: Selling our NHS data is not putting us in control of our health recordsBy James Baker | Published 5th December 2011 - 2:55 pm
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Despite the coalition’s initial promises it is business as usual for Whitehall data-sharing projects. What started under the program of ‘Transformational Government’ is now wrapped up in the language of ‘Open Data’. The new language is attractive – after all we all want public data to be open and accessible. Sadly bureaucrats too often conflate public data with private data collected and stored by public bodies.
Our private NHS medical records should belong to us, we as citizens should be in control of them. They are not the Department of Health’s to trade and share. If we want to share our medical records so others can benefit there should be a clear opt in system where active consent is sought. This principle of clear consent operates throughout all medical research and should apply to how our data is used too. When government starts taking control of our information alarms bells should ring in those who are liberally minded. After all a society in which government assumes control of information is a society in which the government controls us.
