Ethical Standards in E-Health

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that in an effort to promote better quality of healthcare resources on the Internet, the Internet Healthcare Coalition (IHC), a group of organizations that include for-profit and not-for-profit members, introduced an International Code of Ethics for healthcare sites and services on the Internet. The writer points out that one of the goals of the IHC is the promotion of the use of currently available resources that display ethical, innovative and high quality uses of the Internet to deliver healthcare information and services. The writer discusses that unfortunately for consumers and providers, at this point, there is no universal tool to determine which of the information found on the web is candid, professional, of high quality, provides honesty, privacy, or has high quality standards. The writer concludes that the use of the Internet by consumers to obtain information relating to healthcare has increased even though consumers are not certain which information is trustworthy or creditable.

Outline:
Identifying Credible Information Online
HIPAA and E-Health
Ethics Compliance
Ethical e-Health Websites
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Consumers are able to determine whether written information is scholarly through the recognition of the magazine or journal that publishes the information. The use of e-Health is relatively new and consumers are not as familiar with website publishers as they are with publishers of written documents. When researching information from written documents, consumers are able to determine if the information is considered scholarly. There is a need for universally accepted ethical standards for information provided to users of the Internet for e-Health purposes. Once established, these standards must be marketed to consumers and providers to ensure that they are equally accepted."

Sample of Sources Used:

• An ethics compliances program for e-Health sites. (2001). Medical marketing and Media, 36(1), 10. Retrieved November 4, 2007, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 68001913).
• Carey (2001). The Internet healthcare coalition: ehealth ethics initiative. American Dietetic Association. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 101(8), 878. Retrieved November 4, 2007, from Research Library database. (Document ID: 77807577).
• Mack, J., (2004). Beyond HIPAA: Ethics in the e-Health Arena. Healthcare Executive, 19(5), 32-33. Retrieved November 5, 2007, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 687574601).
• New Research Shows 43 Million e-Health Consumers Have Trouble Identifying Credible Information Online. (2002). PR Newswire, 1. Retrieved November 5, 2007, from Business Dateline database. (Document ID: 219998401).
• URAC Releases Book on E-Health Ethics. (2001). PR Newswire, 1. Retrieved November 4, 2007, from Business Dateline database. (Document ID: 90040545).

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