Legal support
In Germany, there are strict legal restrictions for the use of health data in research and the development of medical technology. A close examination is therefore needed to understand why the mechanisms of the GDPR, such as patient consent and anonymization, are not yet sufficient and how the immense potential of existing and future health data can be used more efficiently. It is crucial to develop a balanced approach that promotes and embraces both data protection and progress in medical research and technology.
The chancery Liebenstein Law advises the consortium as a partner throughout the entire project period on the legally compliant handling of health data and consent to data donation. In the monthly legal consultation "Ask the Lawyer", the law firm answers the consortium's questions on various topics such as GDPR, broad consent and anonymization procedures.
In April, the EDSA (European Data Protection Board) adopted new guidelines on the processing of personal data for scientific research purposes.
As things stand, three questions relating to the version of the guidelines published to date are of key importance for the AVATAR-Transfer project: When does an activity constitute scientific research? When may existing data be reused for new research questions? What safeguards are necessary to ensure the responsible use of sensitive health data?
Liebenstein Law assesses the significance of these new guidelines for the AVATAR-Transfer project.
You can find the full legal opinion on this subject HERE.