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HRA Update: Using health information to let patients know about research options: legal, policy and ethical issues
Date: 22 September 2025
The HRA have published a new report on the legal, policy and ethical issues in using patient information to find and contact people about taking part in health and care research.
This work follows recommendations from Lord O’Shaughnessy’s independent review on commercial clinical trials in the UK, which called for clearer arrangements to make it easier for patients to hear about research options in ways that are trusted and transparent.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) commissioned the HRA to establish a common approach to contacting patients about research, as set out in the Government’s response to the Lord O’Shaughnessy review.
This report addresses the issues raised by that commission. It does so by setting out position statements to resolve key questions, and by making recommendations and outlining actions where further work is needed.