Citizen involvement in health tech and the role of ethical principles-based frameworks

Today, it is impossible to think of health care or research without the use of digital technology and AI-based tools – all of which rely on the use and re-use of the personal data of citizens and patients. The latest proliferation of EU laws stemming the European Data Strategy has led to a complex legal framework to comply with (as developer) and rely on (as citizen). The promise of new policy initiatives is to make more data available for (re)use, while empowering citizens with respect to the control over their personal data. In this respect, citizen involvement is crucial but many questions as regards its operationalization remain open. Ethical principles-based frameworks (such as the Belgian 8 caring technology principles) promise to ensure a central place for the user in the design and development of new technologies.