Powers for UK government ministers to make orders allowing them to share individuals’ personal data, including medical records, with public and private organisations without consent have been criticised by the joint parliamentary committee on human rights as much too broad and lacking adequate safeguards.

The government, faced with an outcry over the sweeping powers, has now dropped the controversial clause from the Coroners and Justice Bill and has pledged to consult before introducing further legislation on the issue (BMJ 2009;338:b1009, 11 Mar, doi:10.1136/bmj.b1009).

The influential committee of MPs and peers, whose report will form a key part of the consultation, has joined a number of organisations, including the BMA, in …