BMJ  2007;334:1330-1331 (30 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.39247.679329.80

Editorials

Ethics of collecting and using healthcare data

Primary responsibility lies with the organisations involved, not ethical review committees

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Quality assurance is a broad concept that includes activities termed audit, quality improvement, and clinical governance. Both quality assurance and research require the systematic collection and analysis of data from all (relevant) patients. However, whereas research activities are generally required to undergo independent ethical review, audit activities are exempt from such review. How can we ensure that quality assurance activities are ethical?

Patients using any healthcare system have an ethical responsibility to help with quality assurance activities,^{1 2 3} and with epidemiological research based on population-wide databases, such as the United Kingdom's new National Health Service programme,⁴ because they will benefit from such activities. However, involvement in quality assurance and epidemiological research usually involves using patients' data without their consent. In return for this loss of autonomy and potential risk (of disclosing information that might harm), patients should expect quality assurance activities to be ethically sound, healthcare resources to be committed to . . . [Full text of this article]

Oxford Centre for Enablement, Oxford OX3 7LD

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Staples, M, Elwood, M, St John, J, Howes, F, Pedersen, K (2009). Perceived impact on clinical practice and logistical issues in clinical management surveys of cancer: Australian experience. Qual Saf Health Care 18: 195-198 [Abstract] [Full text]  
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Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Caldicott principles should be sufficient for decisions about patient-identifiable information

D Graham Mackenzie, et al.
bmj.com, 3 Jul 2007 [Full text]

Ethics of collecting and using healthcare data

Michael J Lockwood
bmj.com, 4 Jul 2007 [Full text]

Use of electronic storage of patient data

Matthew W Daunt
bmj.com, 5 Jul 2007 [Full text]

Caldicott guardians are not involved

Derick T Wade
bmj.com, 6 Jul 2007 [Full text]

Identifiable patient information was not the subject of the editorial

Derick T Wade
bmj.com, 6 Jul 2007 [Full text]

Re: Use of electronic storage of patient data

Derick T Wade
bmj.com, 6 Jul 2007 [Full text]

Caldicott function has developed - and is central to the debate

D Graham Mackenzie, et al.
bmj.com, 10 Jul 2007 [Full text]

Re: Caldicott function has developed - and is central to the debate

Derick T Wade
bmj.com, 13 Jul 2007 [Full text]

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