Do we value our privacy more than new medical discoveries? 

Data-driven technology developments are transforming our medical knowledge and giving medical professionals new insights into patients’ wellbeing. Data gathering technology such as fitbits helps monitor heart rates, blood sugar levels and sleep cycles, whereas IBM’s A.I. system, Watson, gives scientists insight into how genes affect our health.

In the 21st century, medical developments are relying on data more than ever before. How can we balance the potential benefits of using personal data for healthcare research, with the ethical dilemmas they provoke? Should we allow companies to use medical data for technological developments and interventions that may improve our lifestyles, or does this contravene our privacy rights? Data analysis could help predict epidemics and optimise clinical trials, but offers an ethical difficulty for medical professionals.

Join the discussion with an expert panel in the Knowledge Centre at The British Library.

The Data Debate series is a collaboration between The Alan Turing Institute, The British Library and the Economic and Social Research Council.

Registration: please click here to book your place.