Compliance with data protection requirements is always a tricky business and even more intricate when it comes to cutting-edge technologies such as distributed ledger technology (DLT), better known as Block Chain Technology (BCT). These difficulties increase even more when the personal data concerned is accorded a special level of protection, as is the case with health data. The following article aims to describe and analyze the legal issues associated with this scenario. The focus here is on the European Union's (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 1, which took effect on May 25, 2018. Furthermore, the functionality of BCT and its possible fields of application in healthcare will be outlined.

Data-driven business models make up the medical and healthcare market in large parts, a trend reinforced by further technological developments and regulation. Care must be taken to avoid a situation where only a few players benefit. It’s weird the patient has to become a customer in order to be a human being in the health business: The consistent empowerment of patients to handle their own data is essential.

In May 2018, the 121st German Medical Association in Erfurt decided to relax the prohibition of exclusive remote treatment which had previously been standardized in the Model Professional Code of Conduct for physicians working in Germany (MBO-Ä). With this, the German Medical Association has responded to the continuing call for progress and further development in terms of digitization. Nevertheless, many questions remain unanswered, such as the implementation and interpretation of the provisions of § 7 para. 4 MBO-Ä in its new wording and their embedding in existing regulations. Data protection, which defines the legal limits of remote treatment, also plays an important role here.

Digital health in the United States is rapidly and continuously evolving to enhance patient care and revolutionize health care delivery. This technology offers substantial promise to both patients and providers, but lacks a comprehensive regulatory structure to ensure adequate safety and privacy. While the Department of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Federal Trade Commission regulate portions of the digital health industry, their oversight is incomplete, with numerous digital health companies falling between the cracks and assuming an unregulated status. This article analyzes the state of digital health legal and regulatory oversight in the United States, discusses how state legislatures and industry organizations have worked to fill existing legal gaps, and presents strategies for encouraging compliance for unregulated entities.

This article discusses the potential role of incentive systems in combating bribery. In particular, it uses an agency theory approach to show how a combination of bonus and malus payments could help to eliminate bribery in multinational corporations. Expert interviews with 35 anti-bribery specialists from Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland were conducted and analyzed through qualitative content analysis. It was found that employees should be rewarded for both productivity and compliance. In addition, performance should be measured in a matrix and whistleblowers should receive a bonus for reporting undesired behavior. Conversely, significant risks associated with incentives for whistleblowing were also identified. Whilst the empirical findings focus on Europe, their implications could be applied globally.

Compliance, defined as the obligation to follow particular rules1 at the institutional level, can hardly be considered while disregarding individual actors: after all, it depends on the value orientation of their attitudes and actions.2 Compliance with the law forms the basis for the actions of all companies, including universities. In Switzerland, most universities have no explicit compliance guides, but they often do have other guidelines that allow making statements about the identity of the institution. The Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) has made social integration a priority for 2017/2018. Within the scope of this priority area, 13 research projects were funded; in this case, the subtopic was 'work, diversity, living space and social security'. In addition, the Department of Social Work provided ad hoc support for smaller projects that illustrate the aspect of social integration. Thus, this institution does not only set guidelines, but also actively promotes them. However, the question remains open as to whether the individual actors act and think in accordance with the guidelines of their institution. As part of a research project on value orientation funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, ZHAW employees were selected as a reference group and asked about their value orientation. The social factor being a crucial focal point at institutions of higher education, the survey was intended to show both the heterogeneity of the group and its common ground: the values shared by all the respondent members that are instrumental in guiding their actions. The precise manifestation of the respondents' social values was also of interest.

The edition features first-rate articles by specialists in the field of healthcare and data security. Apart from that we will face some classical compliance topics and last but not least CEJ Founder Michele DeStefanos new book Legal Upheaval will be introduced and reviewed.