The commercialization of patient data in Canada ethics, privacy and policy.pdf (50.96 kB)
The commercialization of patient data in Canada: ethics, privacy and policy
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-10, 03:22 authored by Sheryl Spithoff, Jessica Stockdale, Robyn Rowe, Brenda McPhail, Nav PersaudKEY POINTS In Canada, commercial data brokers collect deidentified patient data from pharmacies, private drug insurers, the federal government and medical clinics without patient consent. Although pharmaceutical companies are the data brokers’ primary customers, academics and nonprofit and public entities also use commercial data sets, given the absence of a coordinated public approach to collecting these data across Canada. Risks of commercialized patient data include loss of anonymity, surveillance and marketing, discrimination and violation of Indigenous data sovereignty. Coordinated infrastructure for the collection and coordination of health data across Canada and updated privacy legislation would protect individuals and communities and enable appropriate data uses.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Published version
Journal
Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ)ISSN
0820-3946Publisher
Canadian Medical AssociationExternal DOI
Issue
3Volume
194Article number
E95-E97Event location
CanadaDepartment affiliated with
- Philosophy Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes