Should Dermatologists Recommend Direct-to-Consumer App-Based Remote Diagnostics?
Publikation |
Should dermatologists recommend AI-powered apps for dermatological diagnostics to patients? The new article in JEADV clinical practice “Should Dermatologists Recommend Direct-to-Consumer App-Based Remote Diagnostics? An Ethical Analysis” presents an ethical framework for making such a decision & advocates for a blended care solution.
- When apps may be appropriate: DTC apps can be ethically endorsed in specific, rigorously vetted cases – particularly for skin cancer detection where AI performance is strongest, provided they meet strict criteria including regulatory approval and bias mitigation.
- The blended-care solution: the authors advocate for apps in monitoring and follow-up roles, while keeping initial diagnostics under professional oversight. Human-in-the-Loop systems offer the most ethically sound approach for areas of diagnostic uncertainty.
- Five-pillar ethical framework: The structured analysis examines DTC dermatology through autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and explicability – providing actionable guidance for practitioners navigating this evolving landscape.
Authors:
Sonja Mathes, Sebastian Seurig, Theresa Willem, Marta Dechant, Stephan Traidl, Mina Kang, Pedro Marques Pinto, Annette Binder, Tilo Biedermann, Ulf Darsow