Control access to FHIR resources in the Cloud Healthcare API

This page describes how to use FHIR Consent resources to determine data access of FHIR stores in the Cloud Healthcare API.

To configure a FHIR store with consent enforcement, complete the following steps:

Create a FHIR store if you don't already have one.
Set the following FHIR store's ConsentConfig parameters to enable consent enforcement:
- version: Specifies which consent enforcement version is being used for the FHIR store. This value can only be set once by either CreateFhirStore or UpdateFhirStore. After it's set, you must call ApplyConsents or ApplyAdminConsents to change the version.
- access_enforced: If set to true, when accessing FHIR resources, the consent headers provided will be verified against consent directives given by consumers.
  
  Note: The enforcement model is not in effect until ApplyConsents or ApplyAdminConsents is run, which is described in the following section.
- consent_header_handling: If set to PERMIT_EMPTY_SCOPE (default), the server allows requests without (or empty) X-Consent-Scope header. If set to REQUIRED_ON_READ and access_enforced = true, the server rejects all requests without (or empty) X-Consent-Scope header.

Set up a new FHIR store with `ConsentConfig`

curl -X POST \
    -H "Authorization: Bearer $(gcloud auth application-default print-access-token)" \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    --data "{
      'version': 'R4',
      'enableUpdateCreate': true,
      'consentConfig': {
        'version': 'V1',
        'accessEnforced': true
      }
    }" "https://healthcare.googleapis.com/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/locations/LOCATION/datasets/DATASET_ID/fhirStores?fhirStoreId=FHIR_STORE_ID"

You should receive a JSON response similar to the following:

{
  "name": "projects/PROJECT_ID/locations/LOCATION/datasets/DATASET_ID/fhirStores/FHIR_STORE_ID",
  "version": "R4",
  "enableUpdateCreate": true,
  "consentConfig": {
    "version": "V1"
  }
}

If you have an existing store already, use UpdateFhirStore to set the ConsentConfig with the consent enforcement version as V1 and set accessEnforced to true.

curl -X PATCH \
    -H "Authorization: Bearer $(gcloud auth application-default print-access-token)" \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    --data "{
      'consentConfig': {
        'version': 'V1',
        'accessEnforced': true
      }
    }" "https://healthcare.googleapis.com/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/locations/LOCATION/datasets/DATASET_ID/fhirStores/FHIR_STORE_ID?update_mask=consentConfig"

Policies are represented through Consent resource. The resource fields' purpose and use are described in the Data Model Docs.

Here is an example of all resources that can be created for this particular example.

Create FHIR resources

The following sample shows how to execute a [FHIR bundle](/healthcare-api/docs/how-tos/fhir-bundles) to populate the following resources:

A Practitioner resource with name Jeffrey Brown
A Patient resource with name Darcy Smith
An Observation resource showing hemoglobin measurement of Darcy (LOINC718-7) that was collected by the Happy Hospital
An Observation resource showing glucose measurement of Darcy (LOINC15074-8).
A Consent from Darcy to permit Jeffrey Brown using application App/123 to access her data collected by the Happy Hospital
A Consent from Darcy to permit Jeffrey Brown to access any of her data for emergency treatment (ETREAT)
A Consent from the Happy Hospital to permit Jeffrey Brown to access all data when doing biomedical research (BIORCH) with application App/golden

cat > bundle.json << 'EOF'
{
  "resourceType": "Bundle",
  "type": "transaction",
  "entry": [
    {
      "request": {"method": "PUT", "url": "Practitioner/12942879-f89f-41ae-aa80-0b911b649833"},
      "resource": {
        "active": true,
        "birthDate": "1970-05-23",
        "gender": "male",
        "id": "12942879-f89f-41ae-aa80-0b911b649833",
        "name": [{
            "family": "Brown",
            "given": ["Jeffrey"],
            "use": "official"
        }],
        "resourceType": "Practitioner"
      }
    },
    {
      "request": {"method": "PUT", "url": "Patient/3c6aa096-c054-4c22-b2b4-1e4a4d203de2"},
      "resource": {
        "active": true,
        "birthDate": "1990-01-01",
        "gender": "female",
        "id": "3c6aa096-c054-4c22-b2b4-1e4a4d203de2",
        "name": [{
            "family": "Smith",
            "given": ["Darcy"],
            "use": "official"
        }],
        "meta": {
          "tag": [{
            "system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/common-tags",
            "code": "employee"
          }]
        },
        "resourceType": "Patient"
      }
    },
    {
      "request": {"method": "PUT", "url": "Observation/7473784b-46a8-470c-b9a6-fe38a01025aa"},
      "resource": {
        "id": "7473784b-46a8-470c-b9a6-fe38a01025aa",
        "meta": {"source": "http://example.com/HappyHospital"},
        "code": {
          "coding": [{
            "code": "718-7",
            "system": "http://loinc.org",
            "display": "Hemoglobin [Mass/volume] in Blood"
          }]
        },
        "effectivePeriod": {"start": "2021-12-10T05:30:10+01:00"},
        "issued": "2021-12-10T13:30:10+01:00",
        "resourceType": "Observation",
        "status": "final",
        "subject": {"reference": "Patient/3c6aa096-c054-4c22-b2b4-1e4a4d203de2"},
        "valueQuantity": {
          "code": "g/dL",
          "system": "http://unitsofmeasure.org",
          "unit": "g/dl",
          "value": 7.2
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "request": {"method": "PUT", "url": "Observation/68583624-9921-4158-8754-2a306c689abd"},
      "resource": {
        "id": "68583624-9921-4158-8754-2a306c689abd",
        "code": {
          "coding": [{
            "code": "15074-8",
            "system": "http://loinc.org",
            "display": "Glucose [Moles/volume] in Blood"
          }]
        },
        "effectivePeriod": {"start": "2021-12-01T05:30:10+01:00"},
        "issued": "2021-12-01T13:30:10+01:00",
        "resourceType": "Observation",
        "status": "final",
        "subject": {"reference": "Patient/3c6aa096-c054-4c22-b2b4-1e4a4d203de2"},
        "valueQuantity": {
          "code": "mmol/L",
          "system": "http://unitsofmeasure.org",
          "unit": "mmol/l",
          "value": 6.3
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "request": {"method": "PUT", "url": "Consent/10998b60-a252-405f-aa47-0702554ddc8e"},
      "resource": {
        "category": [{
          "coding": [{
            "code": "59284-0",
            "system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/consentcategorycodes"
          }]
        }],
        "id": "10998b60-a252-405f-aa47-0702554ddc8e",
        "patient": {"reference": "Patient/3c6aa096-c054-4c22-b2b4-1e4a4d203de2"},
        "policyRule": {
          "coding": [{
            "code": "OPTIN",
            "system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/v3-ActCode"
          }]
        },
        "provision": {
          "actor": [
            {
              "reference": {"reference": "Practitioner/12942879-f89f-41ae-aa80-0b911b649833"},
              "role": {
                "coding": [{
                  "code": "GRANTEE",
                  "system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/v3-RoleCode"
                }]
              }
            }
          ],
          "extension": [
            {
              "url": "https://g.co/fhir/medicalrecords/Environment",
              "valueCodeableConcept": {
                "coding": [{
                  "code": "123",
                  "system": "App"
                }]
              }
            },
            {
              "url": "https://g.co/fhir/medicalrecords/DataSource",
              "valueUri": "http://example.com/HappyHospital"
            }
          ],
          "type": "permit"
        },
        "resourceType": "Consent",
        "scope": {
          "coding": [{
            "code": "patient-privacy",
            "system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/consentscope"
          }]
        },
        "status": "active"
      }
    },
    {
      "request": {"method": "PUT", "url": "Consent/73c54e8d-2789-403b-9dee-13085c5d5e34"},
      "resource": {
        "category": [{
          "coding": [{
            "code": "59284-0",
            "system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/consentcategorycodes"
          }]
        }],
        "id": "73c54e8d-2789-403b-9dee-13085c5d5e34",
        "patient": {"reference": "Patient/3c6aa096-c054-4c22-b2b4-1e4a4d203de2"},
        "policyRule": {
          "coding": [{
            "code": "OPTIN",
            "system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/v3-ActCode"
          }]
        },
        "provision": {
          "actor": [
            {
              "reference": {"reference": "Practitioner/12942879-f89f-41ae-aa80-0b911b649833"},
              "role": {
                "coding": [{
                  "code": "GRANTEE",
                  "system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/v3-RoleCode"
                }]
              }
            }
          ],
          "purpose": [{
            "code": "ETREAT",
            "system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/v3-ActReason"
          }],
          "type": "permit"
        },
        "resourceType": "Consent",
        "scope": {
          "coding": [{
            "code": "patient-privacy",
            "system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/consentscope"
          }]
        },
        "status": "active"
      }
    },
    {
      "request": {"method": "PUT", "url": "Consent/5c8e3f8a-9fd5-480d-a08e-f29b89feccde"},
      "resource": {
        "category": [{
          "coding": [{
            "code": "57017-6",
            "system": "http://loinc.org"
          }]
        }],
        "id": "5c8e3f8a-9fd5-480d-a08e-f29b89feccde",
        "patient": {},
        "extension": [{
          "url": "https://g.co/fhir/medicalrecords/ConsentAdminPolicy"
        }],
        "policyRule": {
          "coding": [{
            "code": "OPTIN",
            "system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/v3-ActCode"
          }]
        },
        "provision": {
          "actor": [
            {
              "reference": {"reference": "Practitioner/12942879-f89f-41ae-aa80-0b911b649833"},
              "role": {
                "coding": [{
                  "code": "GRANTEE",
                  "system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/v3-RoleCode"
                }]
              }
            }
          ],
          "purpose": [{
            "code": "BIORCH",
            "system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/v3-ActReason"
          }],
          "extension": [
            {
              "url": "https://g.co/fhir/medicalrecords/Environment",
              "valueCodeableConcept": {
                "coding": [{
                  "code": "golden",
                  "system": "App"
                }]
              }
            }
          ],
          "type": "permit"
        },
        "resourceType": "Consent",
        "scope": {},
        "status": "active"
      }
    }
  ]
}
EOF
curl -X POST \
    -H "Authorization: Bearer $(gcloud auth application-default print-access-token)" \
    -H "Content-Type: application/fhir+json; charset=utf-8" \
    --data @bundle.json \
    "https://healthcare.googleapis.com/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/locations/LOCATION/datasets/DATASET_ID/fhirStores/FHIR_STORE_ID/fhir"

You should receive a JSON response similar to the following:

{
  "entry": [
    {
      "response": {
        "etag": "W/\"VERSION_ID\"",
        "lastModified": "2022-09-01T17:31:40.423469+00:00",
        "location": "https://healthcare.googleapis.com/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/locations/LOCATION/datasets/DATASET_ID/fhirStores/FHIR_STORE_ID/fhir/Practitioner/12942879-f89f-41ae-aa80-0b911b649833/_history/VERSION_ID",
        "status": "201 Created"
      }
    },
    {
      "response": {
        "etag": "W/\"VERSION_ID\"",
        "lastModified": "2022-09-01T17:31:40.423469+00:00",
        "location": "https://healthcare.googleapis.com/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/locations/LOCATION/datasets/DATASET_ID/fhirStores/FHIR_STORE_ID/fhir/Patient/3c6aa096-c054-4c22-b2b4-1e4a4d203de2/_history/VERSION_ID",
        "status": "201 Created"
      }
    },
    {
      "response": {
        "etag": "W/\"VERSION_ID\"",
        "lastModified": "2022-09-01T17:31:40.423469+00:00",
        "location": "https://healthcare.googleapis.com/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/locations/LOCATION/datasets/DATASET_ID/fhirStores/FHIR_STORE_ID/fhir/Observation/7473784b-46a8-470c-b9a6-fe38a01025aa/_history/VERSION_ID",
        "status": "201 Created"
      }
    },
    {
      "response": {
        "etag": "W/\"VERSION_ID\"",
        "lastModified": "2022-09-01T17:31:40.423469+00:00",
        "location": "https://healthcare.googleapis.com/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/locations/LOCATION/datasets/DATASET_ID/fhirStores/FHIR_STORE_ID/fhir/Observation/68583624-9921-4158-8754-2a306c689abd/_history/VERSION_ID",
        "status": "201 Created"
      }
    },
    {
      "response": {
        "etag": "W/\"VERSION_ID\"",
        "lastModified": "2022-09-01T17:31:40.423469+00:00",
        "location": "https://healthcare.googleapis.com/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/locations/LOCATION/datasets/DATASET_ID/fhirStores/FHIR_STORE_ID/fhir/Consent/10998b60-a252-405f-aa47-0702554ddc8e/_history/VERSION_ID",
        "status": "201 Created"
      }
    },
    {
      "response": {
        "etag": "W/\"VERSION_ID\"",
        "lastModified": "2022-09-01T17:31:40.423469+00:00",
        "location": "https://healthcare.googleapis.com/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/locations/LOCATION/datasets/DATASET_ID/fhirStores/FHIR_STORE_ID/fhir/Consent/73c54e8d-2789-403b-9dee-13085c5d5e34/_history/VERSION_ID",
        "status": "201 Created"
      }
    },
    {
      "response": {
        "etag": "W/\"VERSION_ID\"",
        "lastModified": "2022-09-01T17:31:40.423469+00:00",
        "location": "https://healthcare.googleapis.com/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/locations/LOCATION/datasets/DATASET_ID/fhirStores/FHIR_STORE_ID/fhir/Consent/5c8e3f8a-9fd5-480d-a08e-f29b89feccde/_history/VERSION_ID",
        "status": "201 Created"
      }
    }
  ],
  "resourceType": "Bundle",
  "type": "transaction-response"
}

Following are more examples of R4 Consent resource that demonstrates how complex policies can be represented.

{
  "resourceType": "Consent",
  "id": "patient-consent-example",
  "patient": {
    "reference": "Patient/f001"
  },
  "category": [
    {
      "coding": [
        {
          "system": "http://loinc.org",
          "code": "59284-0"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "scope": {
    "coding": [
      {
        "system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/consentscope",
        "code": "patient-privacy"
      }
    ]
  },
  "policyRule": {
    "coding": [
      {
        "system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/v3-ActCode",
        "code": "OPTIN"
      }
    ]
  },
  "status": "active",
  "provision": {
    "type": "permit",
    "actor": [
      {
        "reference": {
          "reference": "Practitioner/f002"
        },
        "role": {
          "coding": [
            {
              "system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/v3-RoleCode",
              "code": "GRANTEE"
            }
          ]
        }
      }
    ],
    "purpose": [
      {
        "system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/v3-ActReason",
        "code": "TREAT"
      }
    ],
    "class": [
      {
        "system": "http://hl7.org/fhir/resource-types",
        "code": "Encounter"
      }
    ],
    "data": [
      {
        "meaning": "instance",
        "reference": {
          "reference": "Encounter/e001"
        }
      }
    ],
    "extension": [
      {
        "url": "https://g.co/fhir/medicalrecords/Environment",
        "valueCodeableConcept": {
          "coding": [
            {
              "system": "iso3166-1",
              "code": "CA"
            }
          ]
        }
      },
      {
        "url": "https://g.co/fhir/medicalrecords/DataTag",
        "valueCoding": {
          "system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/common-tags",
          "code": "actionable"
        }
      },
      {
        "url": "https://g.co/fhir/medicalrecords/DataTag",
        "extension": [
          {
            "url": "https://g.co/fhir/medicalrecords/DataTag",
            "valueCoding": {
              "system": "http://example.com/custom-tags",
              "code": "archived"
            }
          },
          {
            "url": "https://g.co/fhir/medicalrecords/DataTag",
            "valueCoding": {
              "system": "http://example.com/custom-tags",
              "code": "insensitive"
            }
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "url": "https://g.co/fhir/medicalrecords/DataSource",
        "valueUri": "http://somesystem.example.org/foo"
      }
    ],
    "securityLabel": [
      {
        "system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/v3-Confidentiality",
        "code": "R"
      },
      {
        "system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/v3-ActCode",
        "code": "PSY"
      }
    ]
  }
}

The preceding example represents a patient Consent resource in which a patient f001 gives permission to a practitioner f002 with the purpose of providing regular treatment represented by TREAT. The practitioner is from the geolocation iso3166-1/CA. This Consent resource permits the practitioner to access the patient data if the data satisfies all of the following conditions.

It is an Encounter type with the ID Encounter/e001.
It comes from the source http://somesystem.example.org/foo.
It satisfies at least one of the following conditions on tag (resources can be tagged by setting Meta.tags' system and code field):

Has the tag (system = http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/common-tags and code = actionable)
Has both tags (system = http://example.com/custom-tags and code = archived) and (system = http://example.com/custom-tags and code = insensitive)

It has at least one of the following security labels

system = http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/v3-Confidentiality and code is one of R, N, M, L, U.
system = http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/v3-ActCode and code = PSY.

Sample admin policy directive

{
  "resourceType": "Consent",
  "id": "admin-policy-example",
  "patient": {},
  "extension": [{
    "url": "https://g.co/fhir/medicalrecords/ConsentAdminPolicy"
  }],
  "category": [
    {
      "coding": [
        {
          "system": "http://loinc.org",
          "code": "57017-6"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "scope": {},
  "policyRule": {
    "coding": [
      {
        "system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/v3-ActCode",
        "code": "OPTIN"
      }
    ]
  },
  "status": "active",
  "provision": {
    "type": "permit",

Control access to FHIR resources in the Cloud Healthcare API Stay organized with collections Save and categorize content based on your preferences.

Configure a FHIR access control enabled store

Set up a new FHIR store with ConsentConfig

Define Policies Using Consent Resource

Create FHIR resources

Sample patient consent directive

Sample admin policy directive

Control access to FHIR resources in the Cloud Healthcare API

Set up a new FHIR store with `ConsentConfig`