RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 In response to Ballantyne and Schaefer’s ‘Consent and the ethical duty to participate in health data research’ JF Journal of Medical Ethics JO J Med Ethics FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics SP 351 OP 352 DO 10.1136/medethics-2018-105271 VO 45 IS 5 A1 Nilay Hepgul A1 Katherine E Sleeman A1 Alice M Firth A1 Anna Johnston A1 James T H Teo A1 William Bernal A1 Richard J B Dobson A1 Irene J Higginson YR 2019 UL http://jme.bmj.com/content/45/5/351.abstract AB We welcome Ballantyne & Schaefer’s discussion of the issues concerning consent and use of health data for research. In response to their acknowledgement of the need for public debate and discussion, we provide evidence from our own public consultation on this topic.