What Legal and Ethical Considerations are Involved?
Epidemiologists must adhere to legal frameworks such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States or the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe. These regulations mandate the protection of personal data and outline the rights of individuals regarding their information. Ethically, researchers must obtain informed consent, ensure data minimization, and maintain transparency about data usage.
