Regulating professional ethics in a context of technological change.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare professional ethics
• Digital health transformation
• Regulatory science

Background:

• Technological advancements, including artificial intelligence, are transforming healthcare practices.
• Ethical considerations surrounding AI in clinical settings are numerous, necessitating professional guidance.
• Regulation development for ethical technology use in healthcare has lagged behind technological progress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify challenges faced by health professionals amidst technological change.
• To assess the sufficiency of existing regulatory codes of ethics and guidance for navigating these changes.
• To explore the role of professional regulation in the ethical adoption of new technologies.

Main Methods:

• Mixed methods research conducted in Ontario, Canada.
• Qualitative content analysis of 63 documents from 26 health profession regulatory bodies.
• Thematic analysis of interviews with 7 regulatory body representatives and focus groups with 17 healthcare practitioners.

Main Results:

• Current codes of ethics primarily address general principles and patient relationships, lacking specificity for rapid technological change.
• Both practitioners and regulatory staff exhibit ambivalence regarding the regulation of technology use.
• Conflicts arise between employer expectations and regulatory guidance, creating ethical uncertainty for professionals in the digital age.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced guidance and regulation are crucial for both healthcare practitioners and their work environments.
• There is a clear need to update regulatory frameworks to encompass the ethical application of technology in healthcare.
• Addressing the gap in ethical guidance is essential for ensuring responsible innovation and practice in digital health.