Why does ethics matter in participatory health?

Abstract

Social media and participatory health has emerged as a promising tool for health, including developing diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions. In the realm of online health care delivery, artificial intelligence based counseling apps now enable patients to consult with a chatbot instead of an actual therapist. However, several ethical issues and implications became relevant with this shift to digital interventions and healthcare delivery. This panel will describe ethical issues related to recent developments in participatory health and social media including the digital exposome, importance of involving patients in the design of AI-based applications and ethics of social media research in healthcare.