Consumer health informatics: ethics, evaluation and standards

Authors

  • Eta S. Berner
  • Amarinder Singh Sandhu
  • Kenneth W. Goodman

Abstract

This article discusses the ethical issues involved in consumer health informatics -specifically those issues surrounding the provision of medical information for patients on the World Wide Web. The discussion includes concerns and suggestions relating to: quality control and error avoidance, Internet governance and Web site responsibility, and intellectual property and control. These issues are argued to be of exceptional importance in the developing world, including Latin America and the Caribbean.

Keywords:

Bioethics, Caribbean, computing, consumer health informatics, developing countries, evaluation, Latin America, patient education, progressive caution, World Wide Web

Author Biographies

Eta S. Berner

Department of Health Services Administration. School of Health Related Professions. University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Amarinder Singh Sandhu

Department of Health Services Administration. School of Health Related Professions. University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Kenneth W. Goodman

Director, Bioethics Program University of Miami.