Medical research is changing, data privacy laws have not
Healthcare DIVE April 30, 2024
Congressional inaction regarding health privacy laws robs Americans of ownership over their health data, argues Senator Bill Cassidy, ranking member of the Senate HELP committee.
We are witnessing a transition point in medical research. The emergence of mass data collection and artificial intelligence-driven analytics is beginning to supplement and may eventually supersede a historical dependence on in-person studies and clinical trials. These innovative tools have incredible potential to develop scientific breakthroughs that save lives.
However, with these advances come significant challenges that threaten a patient’s control of their health data. This is exacerbated by an outdated legal framework ill-equipped to address these issues.
Patients who participate in clinical trials consent to their participation and the use of their data. In...