EuroSOCAP: Development of European Standards On Confidentiality And Privacy In Healthcare Among Vulnerable Patient Populations
Introduction to EuroSOCAP
EuroSOCAP was a European Commission funded project to confront and address some of the challenges and tensions created within the healthcare sector between the anticipated scenarios of the user friendly information society and the fundamental ethical requirements of privacy and confidentiality of healthcare information.
The Project aimed to build an accessible knowledge base, a set of standards and guidance which will inform professional practice, supporting practice as well as protecting patients, throughout the healthcare sector of the European community. Particular attention was paid to the requirements of vulnerable patient populations.
Dissemination of these Standards and Guidance will inform and advise policy makers, professional organisations and the wider public on the issues surrounding both the requirements of and constraints on privacy and confidentiality in healthcare practice within the context of an evolving information society.
EuroSOCAP Project Objectives
The key objectives are
- to identify the main issues and social concerns surrounding the confidentiality of healthcare information together with the ethical obligations and legal requirements;
- to identify and review existing legal provision, policy documents and professional guidance on confidentiality impacting on healthcare;
- to prepare and disseminate EU guidelines on confidentiality and healthcare
- to prepare web page on confidentiality guidelines for healthcare professionals.
The following aspects of healthcare practice will be addressed:
- Keeping patients informed of their rights with regard to confidentiality and of the kinds of purpose for which information about them is used and the people to which such information may need to be passed.
- Disclosure. While patients have a right to expect that health professionals will keep confidential personal information, unless permission to disclose is given, there may be situations where disclosure is deemed necessary without patient consent.
- Medical responsibilities with respect to other professionals in multi-disciplinary teams, inter-agency working, provision of reports about patients, requests for patient information including case records and other documentation.
- Situations with dual obligations including work within prisons and for courts.
- Medical research and clinical audit.
- Secondary service uses of patient information - service management, commissioning of services and service planning
- Patient access to information
- Defensive practice; fears and difficulties experienced by practitioners (including user/patient advocates) in relation to issues of confidentiality.
Participants In The EuroSOCAP Project
| Name | Postal Address | Telephone No | Fax No |
|---|---|---|---|
Professor Roy McClelland
|
Queen's University Belfast
|
00 44 28 90975790 |
00 44 28 9097 5870 |
| Dr Colin M. Harper (Technical Assistant) | Queen's University Belfast
|
00 44 28 90972163 |
00 44 28 9097 5870 |
Marie Brooks (Administrative Assistant) |
Queen's University Belfast
|
00 44 28 90975790 |
00 44 28 9097 5870 |
Professor Tony McGleenan |
School of Law |
00 44 28 90368055 |
|
Professor Dr Wolfgang Gaebel |
Heinrich-Heine-University |
00 49 2119222004 |
00 49 2119222020 |
Professor Emilio Mordini |
Centre for Science, Society and Citizenship |
00 39 064740144 |
00 39 0697840359 |
Dr Jesus Carbajosa |
Septimania Association |
00 34 932240412 |
00 34 934151404 |
Rosa Ordonez |
Septimania Association |
00 34 932240412 |
00 34 934151404 |
Dr Danielle Grondin |
The International Organisation for Migration |
00 41 227179111 |
00 41 227986150 |
Professor Francis Crawley |
European Forum for Good Clinical Practice |
00 32 27328783 |
00 32 25033108 |
Professor Bill Fulford |
Department of Philosophy |
00 44 2476 524961 |
00 44 2476 523019 |
Dr Dominque Sprumont |
Institute of Health Law Avenue du ler Mars 262000-Neuchâtel SWITZERLAND |
00 41 327181280 |
00 41 327181281 |
Dr Beatrice Despland |
Institute of Health Law Avenue du ler Mars 262000-Neuchâtel SWITZERLAND |
00 41 327181280 |
00 41 327181281 |
Dr Sabine Michalowski |
Department of Law |
00 44 1206873000 |
00 44 1206869493 |
Professor Deryck Beyleveld |
Sheffield Institute of
Biotechnological Law & Ethics The University of Sheffield Crookesmoor Building Conduit Road Sheffield S10 1FL UNITED KINGDOM |
00 44 1142226716 |
00 44 1142226832 |
Professor Michael Weindling |
University of Liverpool |
00 44 151 702 4055 (Sec) |
00 44 151 702 4313 |
Dr Tom Berney |
Northgate and Prudhoe NHS Trust |
00 44 1670 394000 |
00 44 1670 394003 |
Dr Paul Thornton |
Pear Tree Surgery |
00 44 2476 462927 |
|
Professor Emmanuel Hirsch |
Espace Ethique AP-HP |
00 33 1 44 84 17 57 |
00 33 1 44 84 17 58 |
Marc Guerrier |
Espace Ethique AP-HP |
00 33 1 44 84 17 57 |
00 33 1 44 84 17 58 |
Professor Goran Hermerén |
Medicinsk etik |
00 46 46 222 1280 |
00 46 46 222 1285 |
Professor Sefik Gorkey |
Marmara University |
00 90 216 3474989 |
0090 216 4144731 |
Alastair Kent |
Genetic Interest Group |
00 44 207 704 3141 |
00 44 207 59 1447 |