Ethical considerations regarding the use of pooled data from electronic health records in general practice

Abstract

Background It is important that research conducted in general practice is ethical and technically robust. Electronic health records (EHRs) have high potential to contribute to research and policy that benefits both individual patients and the broader community. General practitioners are increasingly approached to make EHRs available for research, but they also have ethical and legal obligations to ensure personal information remains confidential and is handled safely.