Ten principles for data sharing and commercialization

J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2021 Mar 1;28(3):646-649. doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocaa260.

Abstract

Digital medical records have enabled us to employ clinical data in many new and innovative ways. However, these advances have brought with them a complex set of demands for healthcare institutions regarding data sharing with topics such as data ownership, the loss of privacy, and the protection of the intellectual property. The lack of clear guidance from government entities often creates conflicting messages about data policy, leaving institutions to develop guidelines themselves. Through discussions with multiple stakeholders at various institutions, we have generated a set of guidelines with 10 key principles to guide the responsible and appropriate use and sharing of clinical data for the purposes of care and discovery. Industry, universities, and healthcare institutions can build upon these guidelines toward creating a responsible, ethical, and practical response to data sharing.

Keywords: data sharing; electronic medical records; intellectual property; policy; privacy.

Publication types

  • Guideline

MeSH terms

  • Academic Medical Centers / standards
  • Biomedical Research / ethics
  • Biomedical Research / standards
  • Electronic Health Records / standards*
  • Health Facilities / standards
  • Information Dissemination* / ethics
  • Ownership / standards
  • Schools, Health Occupations / standards