The recent controversy in Denmark surrounding the (re-)use of newborn screening samples for broad research purposes has sparked serious ethical and legal questions. The case highlights gaps in current safeguards and challenges the public’s trust in health systems.

Law for Health and Life’s Mahsa Shabani is interviewed about the controversy in Science Magazine, highlighting that we must be extremely cautious when managing the secondary use of data collected through public health screening programs. Trust is fundamental, people need to be confident not only in the purpose of screening, but also in how their data and samples may be used in the future.