Françoise Meunier: Italian Senate unanimously approved the Right to be Forgotten for cancer survivors

Françoise Meunier posted the following on LinkedIn:

“I am delighted to share with you that yesterday (5 December 2023), the Italian Senate unanimously approved the Right to be Forgotten for cancer survivors. This is a significant step in protecting cancer survivors from discrimination and allowing them to return to “normal life”.

This accomplishment builds on the progress shared on 3 August 2023 when I conveyed the news that the Chamber of Deputies had unanimously approved the Right to be Forgotten.

What does this legislation entail?

The legislation extends protection to Italian citizens who have successfully completed cancer treatment and have remained in remission for over 10 years, or 5 years in the case of paediatric cancer survivors.
Cancer survivors are now exempt from the obligation to disclose their cancer history when seeking insurance, applying for a mortgage or loan.

Congratulations to the AIOM ,Fondazione Umberto Veronesi ETS ,Favo and Aimac for their efforts and support to the Right to be Forgotten for cancer patients.

The right to oncological oblivion is law: after the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate also unanimously approves the bill”

For details click here.
Source: Françoise Meunier/LinkedIn

Françoise Meunier dedicated her professional life to improving the survival and QoL of cancer patients. Prof. Meunier served as Director-General of the European organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (1991-2015), where she remained active until 2018 as Director of Special Projects, being the driving force behind cancer survivorship activities. Since 2014, she has been pursuing activities on the Right to be Forgotten for cancer survivors, advocating for the creation of a harmonised legal framework to tackle discrimination against cancer survivors. Prior to joining the EORTC, Françoise Meunier was Head of Infectious Diseases Department at Institute Jules Bordet. Prof. Meunier was awarded the Belgian Laureate Prix Femmes d’Europe 2004-2005, conferred the title of Baroness by His Majesty, King Albert II of Belgium in 2007, received the Pezcoller Foundation award in 2009, became a Fellow of the European Academy of Cancer Sciences in 2011, joined the Scientific Committee of the Innovative Medicine Initiative of the European Union in 2012, received the ECCO Life time achievement award in 2013, awarded a Ben de Pauw Medal for her dedication to Medical Mycology in 2013, appointed council member of the Federation of European Academies of Medicine in 2014, appointed Chair of Accreditation Council of Oncology in Europe and Member of Alliance for Biomedical Research in Europe in 2015, and has been a member of the Belgian Royal Academy of Medicine since 2006.