To respect or to heal? : EU data protection reform to threaten medical research. Finding a balance between two human rights

Abstract

In this thesis I will deal with the latest changes in EU Data Protection Regulation regarding health data processing in medical research. I will argue that some of the EU Parliament Committee's proposed amendments impose serious restrictions that may unintentionally threaten scientific advancements in a number of areas. I will try to explain how the implementation of those amendments would make much research involving personal data at worst illegal, and at best in some cases even unworkable. The way to do this is going to be done by comparison and analyses. I will try to answer which kinds of research might be threatened and where and how to find a balance between the two human rights.