Exploring Ethics: Understanding the Role of Privacy Policies and Institutional Review Boards in Digital Health Companies
AbstractResearch efforts are growing rapidly in the digital health industry, but with this growth comes increasing ethical challenges. In this viewpoint paper, we leverage over 20 years of combined experience across academia, industry, and digital health to address critical issues related...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| Online Access: | https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e70711 |
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| _version_ | 1849310032966975488 |
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| author | Jacqlyn L Yourell Kelsey L McAlister Clare C Beatty Jennifer L Huberty |
| author_facet | Jacqlyn L Yourell Kelsey L McAlister Clare C Beatty Jennifer L Huberty |
| author_sort | Jacqlyn L Yourell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
AbstractResearch efforts are growing rapidly in the digital health industry, but with this growth comes increasing ethical challenges. In this viewpoint paper, we leverage over 20 years of combined experience across academia, industry, and digital health to address critical issues related to ethics, specifically privacy policies and institutional review board compliance, which are often misunderstood or misapplied. We examine the purpose of privacy policies and institutional review boards, provide brief examples where companies faced legal and ethical consequences due to shortcomings, and clarify common misconceptions. Finally, we offer recommendations on how digital health companies can improve their ethical practices and ensure compliance in a rapidly evolving landscape. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3d0767b5ca6d40d68510bf593abc4844 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1438-8871 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-3d0767b5ca6d40d68510bf593abc48442025-08-20T03:53:52ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712025-05-0127e70711e7071110.2196/70711Exploring Ethics: Understanding the Role of Privacy Policies and Institutional Review Boards in Digital Health CompaniesJacqlyn L Yourellhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-2958-1411Kelsey L McAlisterhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-1548-4936Clare C Beattyhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-2110-1110Jennifer L Hubertyhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-0276-4640 AbstractResearch efforts are growing rapidly in the digital health industry, but with this growth comes increasing ethical challenges. In this viewpoint paper, we leverage over 20 years of combined experience across academia, industry, and digital health to address critical issues related to ethics, specifically privacy policies and institutional review board compliance, which are often misunderstood or misapplied. We examine the purpose of privacy policies and institutional review boards, provide brief examples where companies faced legal and ethical consequences due to shortcomings, and clarify common misconceptions. Finally, we offer recommendations on how digital health companies can improve their ethical practices and ensure compliance in a rapidly evolving landscape.https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e70711 |
| spellingShingle | Jacqlyn L Yourell Kelsey L McAlister Clare C Beatty Jennifer L Huberty Exploring Ethics: Understanding the Role of Privacy Policies and Institutional Review Boards in Digital Health Companies Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| title | Exploring Ethics: Understanding the Role of Privacy Policies and Institutional Review Boards in Digital Health Companies |
| title_full | Exploring Ethics: Understanding the Role of Privacy Policies and Institutional Review Boards in Digital Health Companies |
| title_fullStr | Exploring Ethics: Understanding the Role of Privacy Policies and Institutional Review Boards in Digital Health Companies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring Ethics: Understanding the Role of Privacy Policies and Institutional Review Boards in Digital Health Companies |
| title_short | Exploring Ethics: Understanding the Role of Privacy Policies and Institutional Review Boards in Digital Health Companies |
| title_sort | exploring ethics understanding the role of privacy policies and institutional review boards in digital health companies |
| url | https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e70711 |
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