Wearables and Health Devices
Our personal health data reveals some of the most intimate details about our lives. The medical conditions we manage, the nutrition we intake, the activity we undertake - these glimpses into our wellbeing give insight into who we are at levels few other data types can match.
Wearable devices and health tracking applications now gather this sensitive information more comprehensively than ever before. But with great power comes great responsibility. Those building businesses around our personal health metrics have profound ethical obligations to handle that data with care, integrity, and wisdom. Patients' privacy rights and interests should override all other priorities, even if functionality is sacrificed. Mere compliance with regulations provides an inadequate bar - we must aim higher to earn enduring trust. If wearable health data platforms follow principles of transparency, encryption, limited retention and decentralized control, they can empower individuals to share information selectively for their benefit. But anything less risks consequences from shattered confidence.
Our health data represents a deeply personal piece of our lives. It demands no less than exceptional caution and respect from those asking us to share it.
