Understanding technology has become an ethical responsibility

With its extension to the private health sector, the recent ehealth laws have led to a focus on legal and regulatory issues. This commenced with the Privacy Act (1988) and was followed with a quantity of legislation, regulations and guidelines, writes Professor Colin Thomson. 

The complexity reflects two aims: that health professionals have relevant patient medical information and that patients’ privacy is protected. These aims reflect ethical principles and obligations that continue to inform professional practice. 

Essential principles of medical ethics 

Conventionally, three…