GDPR Critics Warn EU Law Could Hinder Medical Research
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), set to come into force in 2016, has sparked criticism from research groups. They argue that its strict rules could hinder medical research, despite the EU spending €6.1 billion ($7.8 billion) on it between 2007 and 2013.
One such regulation requires consent from 7,000 patients for follow-up use in an ongoing EU-funded genetic study of colorectal cancer. This repeated consent process is seen as burdensome and costly by researchers.
Critics argue that the GDPR's insistence on informed consent for each use of personal data, even in medical research, could introduce roadblocks. It also makes data from deceased patients inaccessible for future research. Business associations and tech industry groups in Europe have echoed these concerns, though no specific campaign for reducing these burdens has been found.
Without modifications, the GDPR could potentially cost lives and money by hindering medical research. It prevents researchers from accessing data from deceased patients or those unable to give repeated consent. The EU, which has invested heavily in medical research, must consider these implications as it finalizes the GDPR's language.
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