Human Rights and Digital Health Technologies

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Bioethics
• Human Rights Law

Background:

• Digital health technologies are promoted as key to improving healthcare delivery and achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
• However, these technologies introduce significant risks concerning privacy, confidentiality, and potential discrimination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline key harms associated with digital health technologies.
• To identify relevant ethical and human rights standards for digital health.
• To propose strategies for risk mitigation and review accountability mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of harms and ethical/human rights standards.
• Analysis of risk mitigation strategies.
• Examination of accountability mechanisms, including judicial rulings.

Main Results:

• Digital health technologies can lead to violations of fundamental rights, including health, housing, employment, and security.
• Without proper safeguards, these technologies risk exacerbating health inequities and widening the digital divide.
• Judicial rulings and established ethical frameworks offer pathways for accountability.

Conclusions:

• Addressing the ethical and human rights implications of digital health is essential for equitable and safe implementation.
• Proactive planning and robust safeguards are necessary to mitigate risks and prevent the expansion of health disparities.
• Accountability mechanisms are vital to ensure responsible development and deployment of digital health solutions.