How Do Data Protection Laws Affect Epidemiological Research?
Data protection laws impact various aspects of epidemiological research:
- [Informed Consent](): Researchers must obtain explicit consent from participants before collecting their data. This consent must be informed, meaning participants understand how their data will be used and the potential risks involved.
- [Data Minimization](): Researchers are required to collect only the data necessary for their studies. This principle helps to limit the amount of sensitive information handled, reducing the risk of breaches.
- [Anonymization](): To protect privacy, data should be anonymized whenever possible. This means removing or altering information that could identify an individual.
- [Data Subject Rights](): Individuals have the right to access their data, request corrections, and ask for their data to be deleted. Researchers must have processes in place to accommodate these requests.
