Authors:
Stanley F
Authors notes:
Significance 2010;7:72-75
Keywords:
privacy, public good, why not obtaining consent may be best practice
Abstract:
Using medical and other data from private citizens without obtaining the consent of those citizens has been a taboo of statisticians and of society. The right to privacy is infringed; the right to confidentiality is abused. Here Fiona Stanley argues that, far from being unethical, using data without consent may be morally justified, and not using it may be a failure of duty.