What is specially protected data
This type of data, usually called sensitive data , belongs to a special category of data, which due to its influence on privacy requires greater protection than other personal data.
This special protection is justified by the fact that, due
to the information to which this type of data refers, the improper treatment of
the same, in addition to damaging the fundamental right to data protection,
could damage other fundamental rights.
They are regulated in article 7 of the LOPD, and are divided
into three groups:
1. Those
that reveal the ideology, union affiliation, religion and beliefs of a natural
person.
2. Those
that refer to racial origin, health and sexual life.
3. Those
relating to the commission of criminal or administrative offenses.
Processing of data related to ideology, union affiliation,
religion and beliefs
The epigraph 1 of article 7 of the LOPD recalls the mandate
contained in article 16.2 of the Spanish Constitution , that no one may be
forced to declare about their ideology, religion or beliefs, adding that, when
the consent of the interested party is obtained For its treatment, it must be
warned about its right not to provide it. This type of data requires the
express and written consent of the affected party in order to be processed and
subsequently transferred.
The need for express and written consent of the interested
party is excepted in the treatment of files maintained by political parties,
unions, churches, confessions or religious communities and associations,
foundations and other non-profit entities, whose purpose is political,
philosophical, religious or union, regarding the data related to its associates
or members.
However, the transfer of said data will always require the
prior consent of the affected party.
Treatment of data related to racial origin, health and
sexual life
This type of data is regulated in epigraph 3 of article 7 of
the LOPD , and may only be collected, processed and transferred when, for
reasons of general interest, so provided by law or the affected party expressly
consents.
This type of data requires, unlike the previous ones, an
express consent of the affected person in order to be subject to treatment and
its subsequent transfer.
Data related to criminal or administrative offenses
This type of data may only be included in files of the
competent public administrations in the cases provided for in the respective
regulatory standards. They are regulated in section 5 of article 7 of the LOPD
.
The criminal records are recorded in the Central Registry of
Prisoners and Rebels , which depends on the Ministry of Justice, and the
disciplinary proceedings in the field of the competent Administrations will
depend on the activity in question.
Prohibition of certain files
The epigraph 4 of article 7 of the LOPD establishes the
absolute prohibition of the creation of files with the sole purpose of storing
personal data that reveal the ideology, union affiliation, religion, beliefs,
racial or ethnic origin, or sexual life.
Health data
Due to the importance of this type of data, it is necessary
to carry out a more detailed analysis of them. As previously analyzed, this
type of data falls within the category of specially protected data, and may
only be collected, processed and transferred when for reasons of general
interest so provided by a Law or the affected party expressly consents.
They can be defined as information concerning the past,
present and future, physical and mental health of an individual. In particular,
data related to people's health are those referring to their percentage of
disability and their genetic information.
However, article 7.6 of the LOPD establishes as an exception
to this type of consent, those treatments that are necessary for the prevention
or medical diagnosis, the provision of health care or medical treatments or the
management of health services, provided that said treatment is carried out by a
healthcare professional subject to professional secrecy or by another person
subject to an equivalent obligation of secrecy.
This same exception will apply when the processing of
specially protected data is necessary to safeguard the vital interest of the
affected person or another person, in the event that the affected person is
physically or legally incapable of giving such consent.
This circumstance derives from the logical prevalence of the
right to life over the right to data protection. To conclude with this section,
it is convenient to mention Law 41/2002, of November 14 , regulating basic
patient autonomy and rights and obligations regarding information and clinical
documentation, which regulates in its articles 8 and 9, of the informed
consent.