Unlocking the secrets of ethical health tech requires clear, transparent practices – especially in matters of privacy and patient consent. This article brings together insights from industry leaders to shed light on the principles of patient-first consent and data protection. Discover the strategies that ensure users maintain control over their digital health data, without sacrificing innovation or care quality.
- Informed, Ongoing Consent for Digital Health Data
- Patient-First Consent and Transparency
- Explicit, User-Controlled Consent Mechanisms
- Transparent, Patient-Centered Consent Models
- Transparency in Patient Data Collection
- Explicit Informed Consent System
- User-Friendly Consent Process
- Fully Homomorphic Encryption for Data Privacy
- Clear Communication on Data Usage
- Transparency in Data Capture and Use
Informed, Ongoing Consent for Digital Health Data
In the realm of health tech, ensuring data privacy and patient consent is a fundamental ethical obligation, particularly in the treatment of mental health and eating disorders, where sensitive information requires the highest level of protection. We take a patient-first approach to digital health ethics, ensuring transparency, security, and autonomy in data handling.
One specific policy we uphold is Informed, Ongoing Consent for Digital Health Data. This means that patient consent is not a one-time formality but a continuous, interactive process. Patients are given:
- Clear, accessible explanations of how their data is collected, stored, and used. We avoid complex legal jargon to ensure true informed consent.
- Granular control over data sharing, allowing them to choose which health providers or researchers can access their information.
- The right to withdraw consent at any time, with full transparency on what happens to their data afterward.
While AI and digital tools enhance personalized mental health treatment, we apply strict data anonymization protocols to de-identify patient data in analytics, ensuring privacy without compromising research advancements.
Because those with eating disorders and mental health conditions may be in vulnerable states, no digital tool should replace human-centered, ethical care. Every tech-driven approach we implement is clinically guided, trauma-informed, and prioritizes patient well-being over profit or efficiency.
Ultimately, ethical health tech means protecting patient autonomy, ensuring data security, and using innovation responsibly to enhance—not replace—compassionate, person-centered care.
Wendy Oliver-Pyatt
Founder and CEO, Galen Hope
Patient-First Consent and Transparency
Ethical concerns around data privacy and patient consent are at the core of health tech. If people don’t trust that their information is secure, the entire system falls apart. One of the key ways we address this is by designing everything around patient-first consent and transparency.
A specific approach we take is giving patients and providers full control over their data access and permissions. Instead of assuming broad consent, we ensure that patients know exactly who has access to their information and for what purpose. This includes clear, easy-to-understand consent forms and the ability to revoke access at any time.
From a security standpoint, we also prioritize end-to-end encryption and strict access controls. Patient data is encrypted both in transit and at rest, and access is restricted based on role and necessity. No one sees more than they need to, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
We focus on building software that doesn’t just comply with regulations like HIPAA or GDPR but actually makes ethical data handling part of the experience. The goal is to make security and privacy feel seamless, not like a burden. Ethical health tech isn’t just about following the rules; it’s about earning trust through transparency and control.
Jamie Frew
CEO, Carepatron
Explicit, User-Controlled Consent Mechanisms
In health tech, data privacy isn’t just about compliance—it’s about trust. Patients aren’t just users; they’re individuals entrusting sensitive data to us. The challenge? Balancing innovation with ethical responsibility.
One of the most effective ways we address this is through explicit, user-controlled consent mechanisms. Too often, companies bury data policies in legal jargon.
Instead, we implemented clear, opt-in consent where users can:
- Choose what data they share (e.g., for research vs. personalized insights).
- Easily revoke access at any time, with no hidden barriers.
- Monitor their data usage in real-time through a transparency dashboard.
Example: Before collecting biometric data, users receive a plain-language consent form detailing storage, sharing, and usage. This boosted trust and compliance retention significantly.
To secure this data, we use end-to-end encryption and decentralized storage to minimize breach risks. Every record is protected with AES-256 encryption and a zero-knowledge architecture, meaning even internal teams can’t access raw data without explicit user authentication.
Beyond compliance (HIPAA, GDPR, SOC 2), we go further by conducting quarterly security audits and providing users with real-time alerts for any unauthorized data access.
Key Takeaways for Ethical Health Tech:
- Consent must be ongoing, not a one-time checkbox.
- Security should protect users—even from internal risks.
- Transparency builds long-term trust and loyalty.
In health tech, trust is the most valuable currency. The best privacy policy isn’t just secure—it makes users feel in control of their own data.
Murray Seaton
Founder and CEO of Hypervibe / Health & Fitness Entrepreneur, Hypervibe (Vibration Plates)
Transparent, Patient-Centered Consent Models
Ethical concerns regarding data privacy and patient consent must always prioritize the protection of patients above all else. It should be patient before profit. Organizations have no option except to stay up to date with the latest regulations, such as HIPAA, GDPR, and AI governance policies, to ensure compliance while safeguarding sensitive health data. Transparency is key. Transparent, patient-centered consent models that provide clear, understandable choices about data usage, rather than relying on complex, buried terms, are essential. Regular audits and AI risk assessments help mitigate potential data vulnerabilities.
Dr. Erkeda DeRouen
CEO, Digital Risk Compliance Solutions LLC
Transparency in Patient Data Collection
When it comes to health tech, patient data privacy and informed consent are critical ethical concerns. One approach I always follow is ensuring transparency. Patients should clearly understand how their medical data is collected, stored, and used before giving consent. This means explaining privacy policies in simple, non-technical terms so they can make informed decisions about their personal health information.
From a policy standpoint, we adhere to India’s Personal Data Protection (PDP) guidelines and Medical Council of India (MCI) regulations to safeguard patient data. Strict encryption methods, limited access controls, and secure storage systems help ensure that sensitive medical records remain protected. Most importantly, I believe in giving patients control over their information. They should have the right to access, review, or withdraw consent as needed. As technology advances, ethical healthcare isn’t just about innovation. It is about protecting patient trust and confidentiality at every step.
Dr. Lav Kochgaway
Executive Director, Netralayam – The Superspeciality Eye Care Centre
Explicit Informed Consent System
We recognized early on that patient trust hinges on clarity and control over their health data. In one case, a patient expressed concerns about how their medical information would be stored and shared, prompting us to develop an explicit informed consent system. We now provide easy-to-understand, non-technical explanations about data usage, allowing patients to manage their disclosures through a secure dashboard.
Our solution is built on a foundation of HIPAA and GDPR compliance, ensuring end-to-end encryption, role-based access controls, and data anonymization to safeguard patient confidentiality. A physician using our platform once highlighted how these security measures reassured their patients, strengthening trust in remote healthcare solutions.
By prioritizing transparency, security, and patient control, we uphold ethical standards while leveraging technology to improve healthcare outcomes. Healthcare providers can adopt similar strategies by implementing clear consent policies, offering user-friendly privacy controls, and maintaining compliance with the highest data security standards.
Dr. Gregory Gasic
Neuroscientist | Scientific Consultant in Physics & Theoretical Biology | Author & Co-Founder, VMeDx
User-Friendly Consent Process
Transparency is the most important element in building trust in any health technology with ethical implications, especially those connected with data privacy and patient consent. The user-friendly approach involves an explicit design of the consent process to indicate the precise nature of data usage, storage, and sharing.
This does not mean, however, that patients should be fed long-winded legal language; they need simple explanations that offer genuine choices. An example would be the option to refuse sharing data without it affecting their ability to access crucial services.
Another important principle in policy is data minimization, which requires the collection and storage of only that patient information that is absolutely essential. This further mitigates the risk of data breaches while at the same time allowing for meaningful usage of health data.
Periodic audits and stringent access controls serve as additional mechanisms that ensure protection of patient information and limit its access to authorized personnel for valid medical purposes.
Ushmana Rai
Founder, TDEE Calculator
Fully Homomorphic Encryption for Data Privacy
Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) addresses ethical concerns in health tech by enabling computations on encrypted data without ever decrypting it. This ensures that sensitive patient information remains private, even when processed by third parties, aligning with regulations like GDPR and HIPAA while mitigating risks of breaches or unauthorized access.
A key application is privacy-preserving AI for medical diagnostics. With FHE, hospitals can encrypt patient data before sharing it with AI models, allowing analysis without exposing raw information. This enhances patient trust and consent, ensuring their data remains secure while still benefiting from advanced healthcare analytics.
Jeremy Bradley
COO, Zama
Clear Communication on Data Usage
Protecting patient privacy and ensuring proper consent are essential responsibilities in healthcare, especially with the increasing integration of technology. Studies show that 80% of consumers are more likely to trust providers who prioritize data protection. In my experience, that trust is built through clear, open communication. Patients deserve to know how their information will be used, whether it’s for treatment planning, follow-ups, or contributing to medical research. Taking the time to explain these processes in simple terms and answering any questions can significantly improve their comfort and confidence.
On the technical side, using secure, HIPAA-compliant systems is a must. I’ve always believed in implementing safeguards like restricted access, data encryption, and regular audits to protect sensitive information. But it goes beyond compliance; it’s about respecting a patient’s right to control their data. When transparency is prioritized and patients feel empowered to make informed decisions, it strengthens the provider-patient relationship and ensures a higher standard of care.
MANE Center Hair Restoration
General Surgery, Mane Center for Advanced Hair Restoration
Transparency in Data Capture and Use
At our practice, we value transparency. We ensure that patients are well aware of what data is being captured, for what purpose it will be used, and which parties will have access to it. This is done via accessible, clear consent forms that are reviewed with patients during their visits.
A specific approach we take is implementing robust data encryption and security protocols to protect patient information stored digitally. We also restrict data access to only those healthcare workers engaged in the patient’s care and reduce unnecessary exposure to sensitive data. Additionally, we consistently evaluate our privacy policies to stay in line with emerging regulations and best practices, reaffirming that patient trust and privacy are preserved at all costs.
Christian Caswell
Upper Cervical Chiropractor, Top Chiro
