Legal and social implications of health telematics in the EU.

Health telematics involve the processing of data concerning health. The European Directive 95/46/EC constitutes a general prohibition of processing this special category of data. Exemptions to that principle are found in the data subject's consent, vital interests and professional obligation to secrecy. These exemptions, however, do not sufficiently secure legal grounds for health data protection in practice. It is for that reason, that the member states must establish a harmonised legal basis for telematics services. Multinational working groups, such as EHTEL, need respective support.