title: Ethics of emergent information and communication technology applications in humanitarian medical assistance.
abstract: New applications of information and communication technology (ICT) are shaping the way we understand and provide humanitarian medical assistance in situations of disaster, disease outbreak or conflict. Each new crisis appears to be accompanied by advancements in humanitarian technology, leading to significant improvements in the humanitarian aid sector. However, ICTs raise ethical questions that warrant attention. Focusing on the context of humanitarian medical assistance, we review key domains of ICT innovation. We then discuss ethical challenges and uncertainties associated with the development and application of new ICTs in humanitarian medical assistance, including avoiding harm, ensuring privacy and security, responding to inequalities, demonstrating respect, protecting relationships, and addressing expectations. In doing so, we emphasize the centrality of ethics in humanitarian ICT design, application and evaluation.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, and Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Rehabilitation, 3654 Prom Sir William Osler, Montreal, H3G 1Y5, Quebec, Canada matthew.hunt@mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.affiliation: Humanitarian Health Ethics Research Group, McGill University, 3640 Rue de la Montagne, Montreal, H3G 2A8, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pringle
authors.affiliation: Center for Ethics, University of Zurich, Zollikerstrasse 115, Zurich, CH-8008, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Christen
authors.affiliation: Departments of Philosophy and Health Policy, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA, 22030, United States of America.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eckenwiler
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street W, Hamilton, L8S 4K1, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Ethics Unit, 3647 Peel St, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 1X1, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Anushree
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davé
mesh_terms: D000533:Altruism; D003142:Communication; D004190:Disasters; D006801:Humans; D062069:Inventions / Q000941:ethics*; D012066:Relief Work / Q000941:ethics*
keywords: Digital; Disasters; Ethics; Humanitarian aid; Information and communication technology; Innovation