Opening Pandora's box? Freedom of information and health services research

The introduction, or extension, of freedom of information legislation in Britain and other Western countries seems certain to influence the climate for health services research. However, researchers should be clear that, although such legislation may improve access to certain types of data, it will also create new problems and dilemmas. Statutory freedom of information regimes are likely to raise difficult issues of adaptation and compliance for health service bodies. Researchers may find that this translates into reluctance to agree access and accentuates difficulties in managing field relationships. They may, inter alia, face difficult dilemmas in deciding whether, or how, to report non-compliance, judging whether to extend research into areas where consent has not been obtained and weighing the benefits of using the official rules to insist on disclosure against the dis-benefits of jeopardising relationships. Health services researchers should regard freedom of information legislation, not simply as a resource, but a topic deserving study in its own right.