Presumed consent
Your healthcare provider may send data directly to another healthcare provider, with your knowledge, as part of your treatment. This happens, for example, when you are referred by your GP to a specialist or when a healthcare provider from one hospital refers you to a healthcare provider from another hospital. Also, as part of providing you with good-quality care, it is sometimes necessary for your healthcare provider to coordinate with one or more other healthcare providers on the best form of treatment. This can be done, for example, by consulting another doctor or through a discussion in a multidisciplinary consultation (MDC; discussion with fellow doctors). We are permitted to assume your consent in these cases because you consent to treatment or referral. If you nevertheless do not want us to send your data to another healthcare provider (e.g., your GP) in these cases, you can discuss your objection to this with your treating physician.
In cases other than referral, peer consultation and MDC, healthcare providers ask for your explicit consent to sharing your data.
Explicit consent
Increasingly, medical data are being exchanged digitally through an electronic exchange system. This is a system that allows the hospital to make specific data from your medical record accessible electronically to other healthcare providers. Other current or future healthcare providers of yours can log in to this system to view medical data about you. Your healthcare provider may only use such an electronic exchange system if you have given your explicit consent. The digital exchange of your data takes place, of course, through well-secured networks.
Maastricht UMC+, for example, has joined the XDS network together with other hospitals in the region. Through this network, we exchange radiology images with these hospitals. Previously, this was always done on DVD, which was much more time-consuming and also more error-prone. Healthcare providers can now log into the system and do not have to request data separately, which is beneficial for your treatment, especially in acute situations.
We ask for your consent to the sharing of your medical data with other healthcare providers through an electronic exchange system if this is necessary as part of your healthcare provision. Your practitioner may ask for this during your appointment. Your choice will then be noted in your electronic patient record.
Children or legally incapable patients
In case of minors or legally incapable patients, the parents/representatives may give consent. Up to the age of 12 years, the custodial parent or legal representative may give consent on the child’s behalf. From the age of 12 years to 16 years, the child must also give his/her own consent. From the age of 16 years, the patient is personally responsible for giving consent. In cases of legal incapacity, the patient’s legal representative may give consent.
Refusing consent
If you would prefer not to allow healthcare providers outside MUMC+ to view your patient record, you can refuse your consent. However, this may mean that healthcare providers outside MUMC+ are less well able to respond to your health situation, especially in acute situations where you cannot give consent yourself.
How long is my consent valid?
Your consent is valid until you withdraw it. This means that you also consent to your medical data being accessed by healthcare providers who will treat you in the future.
Withdrawal of consent
You can withdraw your consent at any time. You can indicate this during a visit to MUMC+. The withdrawal of consent applies from the time that we have processed it in the system. From then on, the external healthcare provider will no longer be permitted to see your data. You cannot retroactively withdraw your consent. This means that the treating healthcare provider may see your medical data until that date and those data may be included in your record with that healthcare provider.