International legal regulation of access to health information and the right to privacy

This paper examines the intersection of health information and the right to privacy, with a focus on the legal and ethical implications of protecting personal health data. While international law guarantees the universal right to respect private life, the right to access and protect health information is primarily addressed in advisory guidelines issued by international governmental and non-governmental organizations. The paper argues that,although health-related rights are not explicitly outlined aspart of the right to privacy in most legal instruments, a strong connection exists between the right to access health information and the obligation to safeguard it through confidentiality mechanisms. This relationship is largely governed by “soft law,” which guides without binding force. Additionally, the paper explores the evolving jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights, examining key rulings that demonstrate howhealth information is increasingly recognized as an integralpart of the broader right to respect for private life. Throughthis analysis, the paper highlights the growing recognition that protecting health information is essential for ensuring privacy and upholding individual rights.