The case for a hippocratic oath for connected medical devices: viewpoint

Abstract

Prior to graduating from medical school, soon-to-be physicians take the Hippocratic Oath, a symbolic declaration to provide care in the best interest of patients. As the medical community increasingly deploys connected devices to deliver patient care, a critical question emerges: should the manufacturers and adopters of these connected technologies be governed by the symbolic spirit of the Hippocratic Oath? In 2016, I Am The Cavalry, a grassroots initiative from the cybersecurity research community, published the first Hippocratic Oath for Connected Medical Devices (HOCMD). Over the past three years, the HOCMD has gained broad support and influenced regulatory policy. We introduce five case studies of the HOCMD in practice, leading to a safer and more effective adoption of connected medical technologies.