|
KMID : 1025620210240010017
|
|
Korean Journal of Medical Ethics
2021 Volume.24 No. 1 p.17 ~ p.29
|
|
|
Two Conflicting Aspects of Digital Health Technology: Public Safety and Individual Rights
|
|
Kim Do-Kyong
|
|
|
Abstract
|
|
|
|
It is widely thought that digital health technology will promote more informed decision-making and thereby improve patients’ health. Additionally, this technology is expected to enhance the quality, accessibility, and efficiency of the public healthcare system and strengthen national industrial competitiveness. However, the widespread use of digital health technology may also have certain negative effects on medical practice and raise ethical concerns. This article illuminates some of the hidden problems and concerns with this technology. First, in distinguishing between normal and abnormal conditions, this technology may end up judging and excessively controlling the characteristics and lifestyles of individuals. Second, the collection and use of big data, upon which digital health technology is based, threatens individual privacy and autonomy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, digital health technology has been used to monitor the quarantine compliance of infected individuals, trace contacts, model the spread of the virus, and provide telemedicine to COVID-19 patients. However, this ability to identify, monitor, and trace individuals has led to invasions of privacy and social discrimination.
|
|
|
KEYWORD
|
|
|
digital health technology, medicalization, privacy, autonomy, public health, COVID-19
|
|
|
FullTexts / Linksout information
|
|
|
|
|
|
Listed journal information
|
|
 
|
|