February 3, 2015

the ethics of ‘big data’ – Nuffield Council on Bioethics report launch

We are generating more data about people’s health and biology, from more sources, than ever before, including from GP records (e.g. care.data), hospital notes, laboratory tests, clinical trials, monitoring devices and health apps. Advances in information technology and data science mean that it is becoming easier, cheaper and more valuable to gather, transfer, link, store and analyse these data.

The use of ‘big data’ offers significant opportunities to generate new knowledge, improve medical practice, increase service efficiency and drive innovation.

But what does this mean for privacy? How should we determine what uses of data are right or wrong?  How can we protect people from unacceptable risks? And how can we ensure that the public can trust that their data are being used appropriately?

Following a two year enquiry, the Nuffield Council on Bioethics is publishing its report, ‘The collection, linking and use of data in biomedical research and healthcare: ethical issues’.

Members of the working party came to the SMC to present the report’s conclusions and recommendations about the use of data in healthcare and biomedical research.

Speakers:

Mr Hugh Whittall, Director, Nuffield Council on Bioethics

Prof Martin Richards, Chair of the Working Party, Nuffield Council on Bioethics & Emeritus Professor of Family Research, University of Cambridge

Prof Mike Parker, Member of the Working Party, Nuffield Council on Bioethics & Professor of Bioethics and Director of the Ethox Centre, University of Oxford

Dr Susan Wallace, Member of the Working Party, Nuffield Council on Bioethics & Lecturer in Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Leicester