Privacy
Patient data under the Swiss FADP and the EU GDPR
· Jude Ade
Health data is a special category; the practical duties are lawful basis, minimisation, security and transparency.
Health information is treated as a special category of personal data in both Swiss and EU law, which raises the standard for how it is collected, stored and shared.
Start with lawful basis and purpose. Data collected for a clinical consultation cannot be reused for marketing without separate, freely given consent.
Minimisation is the most neglected principle. Forms routinely collect information nobody will use, and every unnecessary field increases risk without adding value.
Security means encryption in transit and at rest, access limited by role, multi-factor authentication for administrators, audit logging and a tested restore process — not merely a password policy.
Transparency completes it: a plain-language privacy notice, a retention schedule that is actually applied, and a clear route for patients to exercise their rights.
This article is general education. It does not constitute individual medical advice and does not create a doctor–patient relationship. For emergencies, contact the emergency services in your current location.
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