Françoise Meunier, Right to Be Forgotten
Françoise Meunier

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.”

Françoise Meunier

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