ANDS has announced the new ANDS Guide to Ethics Consent and Data Sharing. Ethics has been found to be an issue for the sharing of data involving human subjects. This guide outlines practical steps to be taken by researchers who want to make their data available to others, and by Human Research Ethics Committees who want to provide institutional support for the sharing of sensitive data.

Drawing on the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research and the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, the Guide advises on: informed consent and data sharing; Human Research Ethics Committees and data sharing; anonymising data; and, access control and licensing.

The Guide makes it clear, that in many cases, data obtained from people can be shared while upholding both the letter and the spirit of data protection, and research ethics principles.