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Ontario’s health profession codes of ethics emphasize responsibilities to clients/patients, competence, and adhering to standards of practice. Most also touch on relationships with colleagues and coworkers and general principles like beneficence and respect. However, codes rarely address relationships between professionals and their employers. The use of technology is addressed in various degrees by regulatory colleges. Most have policies on social media and virtual practice, but only a few emphasize competency in technology use and AI.
Regulators face challenges in keeping up with technological changes and forming policies. The focus is on public protection and ensuring competence among health professionals. When practitioners face ethical dilemmas related to technology, they often seek advice from their regulatory college, although policies in this area are often reactive to emerging issues.
Practitioners interviewed expressed excitement about technological advancements but shared concerns about the usefulness of regulatory guidance on technology use. Policies were considered to be lagging behind the rapid development of new technologies. Some hesitated to rely on these guidelines when faced with conflicting demands from their employers. There are also concerns that regulator policies may not be fully aligned with the complexities of technology use in practice.
Overall, the study highlights the need for clearer guidance and standards on technology use in healthcare practice to ensure the protection of patients and the public interest amidst rapid technological advancements in the field.
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Photo credit bmcmedethics.biomedcentral.com
