Ethical issues when teledermatology employs tape-stripping molecular diagnostics

Teledermatology has narrowed geographic gaps in dermatologic care, but pigmented lesions are difficult to evaluate remotely. Mailed adhesive tape-stripping (TS) kits offer a potential noninvasive molecular adjunct, but their promised benefits (including fewer in-person visits, biopsies, and costs) remain largely unproven in practice. Herein we discuss the ethical pros and cons of TS in this setting and compare it to alternative investments such as primary care dermoscopy training and teledermoscopy. There remain unresolved concerns regarding TS cost, evidence of actual practice change, commercial oversight, data governance, and confidentiality in home specimen collection.