Françoise Meunier Supports Shorter ‘Right to Be Forgotten’ Period for Cancer Survivors
Françoise Meunier, Vice President at the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium, shared a post by German Foundation for Young Adults with Cancer on LinkedIn:
“German Cancer Groups Call for Shorter ‘Right to Be Forgotten’ Period Ahead of EU Directive Transposition
On 5 June 2025, the German Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection presented a draft bill to transpose EU Directive 2023/2225 on consumer credit agreements into national law, introducing a Right to Be Forgotten. Under the current draft, personal data related to a cancer diagnosis could affect insurance or loan applications for up to 15 years after treatment, a period many experts consider too long.
In a joint statement on 17 July, the DGHO and the German Foundation for Young Adults with Cancer called for a 5-year period, reflecting modern medical advances and improved survival rates, with regular updates to keep pace with ongoing progress in cancer care. The statement emphasises that the current 15-year period does not match medical knowledge and calls for a policy that truly ends financial discrimination. I strongly share and endorse the position put forward by these German organisations.
As one of the EU’s largest member state, Germany’s decision could set a precedent, encouraging other countries to adopt a shorter timeframe and creating a positive impact for cancer survivors across Europe.
Deadline for the Consumer Credit Directive transposition: November 2025!
Read the full statement here.”
Quoting German Foundation for Young Adults with Cancer’s post:
” ‘It is a crucial step for young people who have survived cancer: the new EU The Consumer Credit Directive provides for a ‘right to be forgotten’. This means that after a certain period of time, information about a previous cancer diagnosis may no longer be used in credit and insurance contracts. The current draft of the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection provides for a period of up to 15 years. In our view, this is too long.Together with the DGHO – the German Society for Hematology and Medical Oncology – we are advocating for a period of five years. This corresponds to the medically established ‘proven cure’ and takes into account the enormous progress in cancer treatment: Many young patients are considered cured after five years.Our joint.
Statement on The draft bill makes it clear:
- The legal regulation must reflect the current state of medical knowledge.
- The deadline should be significantly shortened and regularly reviewed.
- Young cancer survivors deserve fair opportunities – including when it comes to credit.
The detailed statement can be found here.”
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