title: Freedom of Information Act: scalpel or just a sharp knife?
abstract: The concluding statement of the Burns Commission, established to evaluate whether changes are needed to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), ruled no major legislative changes were required. As such Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation still enables anyone to obtain information from public authorities. In this brief report article we explore arguments regarding FOI as an instrument for healthcare research using an international research programme as a case study.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Psychology, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Simon P
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0473-3610
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Jane L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Fiona M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Poland
authors.affiliation: Older Peoples Medicine Department, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Martyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Penhale
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Toby O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Psychology, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fox
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003068:Coercion; D003219:Confidentiality / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D026689:Ethical Analysis; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D018907:Privacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D013222:State Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Coercion; Confidentiality/Privacy; Public Health Ethics; Public Law; Research Ethics