Patient confidentiality and personal healthcare data: the past, present and future and relevance for the UK Defence Medical Services

Patient confidentiality and the judicious handling of personal healthcare data are cornerstones of medical ethics and law. They are integral to the trust that patients have in a healthcare service. In the UK, the Defence Medical Services face unique challenges related to this topic in their provision of both clinical and occupational healthcare. Furthermore, the landscape for the processing of personal healthcare data is changing rapidly with legislative and technological developments, including the advent of Artificial Intelligence and efforts to regulate its use. A sound understanding of the past, present and future of this subject is key for UK Defence medical personnel to navigate this evolving principle of medical ethics and law.