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Data Erasure

Meaning

Data erasure is the process of permanently and irreversibly removing digital information, such as sensitive patient health records, hormonal test results, or genetic data, from all storage media to ensure it cannot be reconstructed. In the clinical setting, this is a crucial compliance requirement and ethical obligation to protect patient privacy and adhere to the “right to be forgotten” principles in data governance. Proper data erasure is distinct from simple file deletion, which often leaves recoverable traces.