TY - JOUR

T1 - Digital Health, Artificial Intelligence and Accessibility to Health Care in Denmark

AU - Lebret, Audrey

AU - Minssen, Timo

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Although artificial intelligence contributes to the improvement of health care systems, it also raises issues of accessibility without discrimination to health services, which is an essential element of the human right to health. Several international and European treaties, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, protect the right to health. As a contracting state of this Covenant, Denmark is bound by its content. Danish’s highly digitalized public sector, including health care, must therefore be assessed regarding the right to health, especially accessibility to everyone. We argue that digitalization is generally compatible with information accessibility in the Danish context. However, the country will need to be attentive to the situation of its vulnerable populations in order to avoid the propagation of bias and discrimination by artificial intelligence-driven health care. A transparent and safeguarded use of real-world data and data disaggregation may contribute to mitigate those risks.

AB - Although artificial intelligence contributes to the improvement of health care systems, it also raises issues of accessibility without discrimination to health services, which is an essential element of the human right to health. Several international and European treaties, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, protect the right to health. As a contracting state of this Covenant, Denmark is bound by its content. Danish’s highly digitalized public sector, including health care, must therefore be assessed regarding the right to health, especially accessibility to everyone. We argue that digitalization is generally compatible with information accessibility in the Danish context. However, the country will need to be attentive to the situation of its vulnerable populations in order to avoid the propagation of bias and discrimination by artificial intelligence-driven health care. A transparent and safeguarded use of real-world data and data disaggregation may contribute to mitigate those risks.

M3 - Journal article

VL - 2021

SP - 39

EP - 49

JO - European human rights law review

JF - European human rights law review

SN - 1361-1526

IS - 1

ER -