Commentary: ethical issues in the use of computerized databases for epidemiologic and other health research

Computerization of databases has increased apprehension about loss of privacy. The intent of this paper is to facilitate health research that gives proper respect to ethical principles, thereby increasing public comfort and reducing demands for restrictive legislation concerning access to databases. We review how computerization has increased the saliency of concerns and discuss examples of the application of ethical analysis in published database research. Extreme positions notwithstanding, there is general agreement among researchers that research curiosity and the convenience of database research cannot justify the suspension of moral concerns about privacy and confidentiality. Public and professional concerns may affect policy development; therefore, the methods of ensuring privacy and protecting confidentiality must be routinely described in research proposals and published reports along with the benefits of the research. An important issue requiring further attention is that the moral responsibility to respect privacy increases with the sensitivity of information.