e-Health Ethics Draft Code (Feb 18)

The Internet is changing how people receive health information and health care. All who use the Internet for health-related purposes must join together to create an environment of trusted relationships to assure high quality information and services; protect privacy; and enhance the value of the Internet for both consumers and providers of health information, products, and services. The goal of the "e-Health Code of Ethics" is to ensure that all people worldwide can confidently, and without risk, realize the full benefits of the Internet to improve their health. The draft code, presented in this paper, has been prepared as a result of the "eHealth Ethics Summit," which convened in Washington DC on 31 January 2000 - 2 February 2000, organized by the Internet Healthcare Coalition and hosted by the World Health Organisation/Pan-American Health Organisation (WHO/PAHO), and attended by a panel of about 50 invited experts from all over the world. It sets forth guiding principles under five main headings: candor and trustworthiness; quality; informed consent, privacy, and confidentiality; best commercial practices; and best practices for provision of health care on the Internet by health care professionals.