The Protection of the Right to Health in the Digital Era: Digital Health, Artificial Intelligence, and Law

Abstract

The use of digital tools in the governance of health systems and in patient care has become increasingly frequent in the day-to-day functioning of health systems worldwide. This comprehensive set of health products and services that leverage new digital technologies is transforming health systems around the world and establishing digital health as a new and promising field of study, especially due to the enormous potential benefits it can bring to humanity. To understand the emerging challenges related to the regulation of digital technologies relevant to health, the Journal of Health Law has organized this special issue: “Digital Health Law: Regulatory Opportunities and Challenges in Brazil,” dedicated exclusively to the dissemination of original scientific articles on the right to digital health and the regulation of artificial intelligence applied to health in Brazil and in other national and multilateral jurisdictions. This issue brings together a series of studies that critically examine digital health, artificial intelligence applied to healthcare, and the effects of digital transformation on health systems, analyzing their impact on fundamental rights and exploring possible regulatory pathways. This special issue aims to contribute to the promotion of a responsible and democratic digital transformation, fully aligned with the foundations, principles, and objectives of the Brazilian National Public Health System, and committed to the realization of the right to health for all individuals.