The BMA is calling for confidential health information to be exempt from new government legislation which will allow sharing of personal data across Whitehall departments.
The controversial powers are included in the Coroners and Justice Bill which had its second reading in the House of Commons last week. The BMA claimed the data sharing powers would strip patients and doctors of any rights in relation to the control of sensitive health information.
The Bill means ministers who want to share data across departments can issue an “information sharing order†which would be the subject of a formal consultation, a report from the Information Commissioner and would need parliamentary approval before it could be implemented.
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