EuroSOCAP: Development of European Standards On Confidentiality And Privacy In Healthcare Among Vulnerable Patient Populations

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The EuroSOCAP Workshop

The EuroSOCAP (European Standards on Confidentiality and Privacy in Healthcare Among Vulnerable Patient Populations) Workshop was held at the Residence Palace in Brussels on Thursday 8th September 2005. It was attended by 80 experts from 26 European and neighbouring countries. The experts were from the European Commission, National Ministries of Health, National Data Protection Authorities, Industry, Medical Associations, Patient Organisations, Universities and relevant international organisations such as the WMA and the EFGCP.

The proceedings of the Workshop are available here.

Further details about the Workshop are provided below.

Workshop Description

This Workshop examines the current ethical, legal and regulatory requirements for confidentiality and privacy in healthcare in Europe, with particular emphasis upon the protection of vulnerable patient populations. It explores the relation between European Union and national requirements in the context of international standards in the area of confidentiality and privacy in healthcare. Its focus is on the EuroSOCAP Standards for Confidentiality and Privacy in Healthcare.

The purpose of this Workshop is to confront and address some of the challenges and tensions created within the healthcare sector between the anticipated demands of the user friendly information society, contemporary social, political and economic developments, and the fundamental ethical and legal requirements of privacy and confidentiality of healthcare information. The aim is to refine a set of Standards which have been developed to inform professional practice, supporting practice as well as protecting patients, throughout the healthcare sector of the European Union and wider European community.

Workshop Aims and Objectives

The Workshop aims to critically evaluate current European and member state standards in the light of the EuroSOCAP European Standards for Confidentiality and Privacy in Healthcare and to investigate the suitability of these new Standards for the healthcare systems of the various member states. It seeks to draw on the expertise of a wide range of international, EU and national health policy leaders, representatives of professional organisations and service users.

One objective is a consensus on key aspects of practice concerning confidentiality and privacy in healthcare. Areas of divergence and difficulty will be specified and particular attention will be paid to the requirements of vulnerable patient groups, such as children, the mentally incapacitated, migrants and prisoners.

Plans for the exploitation of the results of the project work will be developed including the establishment of a network for ongoing comparative monitoring of confidentiality issues in different European countries, presentation of proposals for future research, agreement on action to establish initiatives for training workshops based on the results of the project and agreement on action to establish initiatives for developing patient information on health care confidentiality.

Workshop Topics

The Workshop will be focused on current and developing standards of law and guidance on confidentiality and privacy in healthcare within EU member states. In particular it will examine the EuroSOCAP European Standards for Confidentiality and Privacy in Healthcare.

Within this focus, the following topics will be addressed:

  • The Ethical and Legal Basis of Privacy and Confidentiality in Healthcare.
  • Balanced decision making and the needs of vulnerable groups.
  • Uses, Disclosures and Protections of Patient Information in providing Healthcare, including: keeping patients informed; consent to uses and disclosures of patient information; the impact of forms of vulnerability on the uses and disclosures of patient information for healthcare purposes; disclosure to a patient's carers; disclosure after a patient's death; multi-disciplinary and inter-agency working; access to a patient's healthcare records; situations with dual obligations; the security of patient information.
  • Uses, Disclosures and Protections of Patient Information for Healthcare Purposes not directly related to their Care, including administrative and management purposes (such as the commissioning, management and administration of health services and clinical audit) and the use of patient information for research.
  • Obligations and Justifications to Disclose Patient Identifiable Information.

Workshop Format

The Workshop is structured around plenary sessions which will address topics arising in the following areas: Uses, Disclosures and Protections of Patient Information in providing Healthcare; Uses, Disclosures and Protections of Patient Information for Healthcare Purposes not directly related to their Care; and Obligations and Justifications to Disclose Patient Identifiable Information .

Workshop Participants

The Workshop invites participation from: international, EU and national health policy leaders; representatives of professional organisations and service user organisations; members of European ethics committees and regulatory authorities; academics and lawyers. Key figures in the European Commission and European Parliament with an interest in this field are invited. Leading representatives in the field of ethical regulation from other regions of the world are also invited to participate.

Workshop Language

The language of the workshop is English.

Workshop Programme

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