patinba Jun 24, 2021:

Shilpa and now Ormiston are on the right track, the issue is one of anonymisation, defined as removing identifiable and traceable links to an individual; the links from the original data to the new are completely destroyed and it is no longer possible to go back to the original dataset. Therefore you can also say "personal data of the subjects wil not be linked to the study" but I still think my answer works.

ormiston Jun 24, 2021:

It might mean the other way round...! That the DATA is not assigned/attributed to particular individuals, i.e. it remains anonymous

Nigel Lindup (asker) Jun 24, 2021:

Thanks for contributions Dear colleagues, Thanks for your contributions and ideas. I confess I’m surprised that no one seems to have come across this usage of “asignar”, given that the context is clinical trials, which I thought were a major area for translation. The closest is @patinba, who has spotted a usage meaning “state” or “record”, which is useful to know, but that doesn’t seem to fit the bill here as the data is obviously going to be recorded somewhere. The problematic aspect for translation is that it lacks a complementary adverbial phrase saying “[asignar] where/to whom” . English “Allocate” and “Assign” don’t work for that reason – they require such a complement or implication. Ultimately of course it must mean “disclose”, but that doesn’t capture the implicit notion of “handing over”. I can’t think of anything better than “transfer”, which can work on its own, but I won’t be satisfied till I see more examples in Spanish. In the end I chickened out and left it literal (“assign”) and referred it back to the agency, for discussion with the client, so I don’t yet know what was decided.

Sandro Tomasi Jun 17, 2021:

@Nigel Do you know if they're talking about not including "datos personales" as part of their clinical trial from the very beginning or not including them, once obtained, in subsequent matters?

AllegroTrans Jun 17, 2021:

@ Frank Whilst you are probably correct about this ultimately meaning "patients' identities" I think it would be jumping the gun to change a term which clearly means "personal data"

Frank Foley Jun 17, 2021:

Identity, not personal data Personally, ;-), I'd use "identity" over "personal data", as I'm pretty sure personal data WILL be included in the study, whatever it is. For example, age, gender, medical history.
So I reckon something like "patients' identities" will not be included /revealed / disclosed etc., except where permitted by law" would cover it better.
Or alternatively, something along the lines of "patients will not be identified / will be anonymised..."