Dove ES, Thompson B, Knoppers BM. A step forward for data protection and biomedical research. The Lancet 2016;387(10026):1374-1375
A European General Data Protection Regulation that is favourable for research was agreed by Member States and Parliament in December 2015. The Regulation deems health-related data and genetic data as so-called special categories of sensitive data, subject to increased restrictions. However, researchers can use these data without consent as long as it is permitted under EU or Member State law and appropriate safeguards are in place. The Regulation facilitates the reuse of data for research, even where the data were collected for another purpose.
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(16)30078-2/abstract