Surveillance in Next-Generation Personalized Healthcare: Science and Ethics of Data Analytics in Healthcare

Abstract

Advances in science and technology have allowed for incredible improvements in healthcare. Additionally, the digital revolution in healthcare provides new ways of collecting and storing large volumes of patient data, referred to as big healthcare data. As a result, healthcare providers are now able to use data to gain a deeper understanding of how to treat an individual in what is referred to as personalized healthcare. Regardless, there are several ethical challenges associated with big healthcare data that affect how personalized healthcare is delivered. To highlight these issues, this article will review the role of big data in personalized healthcare while also discussing the ethical challenges associated with it. The article will also discuss public health surveillance, its implications, and the challenges associated with collecting participants’ information. The article will proceed by highlighting next generation technologies, including robotics and 3D printing. The article will conclude by providing recommendations on how patient privacy can be protected in next-generation personalized healthcare.

KEYWORDS:

• Next-generation
• ethics of data
• surveillance
• personalized healthcare

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Acknowledgments

My deep and sincere gratitude to Dr. Gerard Magill for giving me the opportunity to do research and providing me invaluable guidance.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kamal Althobaiti

Kamal Althobaiti is a Ph.D. candidate at Duquesne University studying Healthcare Ethics. His primary research focuses on surveillance and privacy in public health. He is also interested in infectious diseases management, data analytics, public health ethics, and research protocols. Prior to his doctoral studies, Kamal received his MPH from University of Pittsburgh, where he examined HIV prevalence and cultural implications in Saudi Arabia. Before his graduate studies, Kamal was the head of the training and education department in the Blood Banks and Laboratories Administration at Taif Health Directorate. He designed training programs for new employees and interns at the Regional Laboratory in Taif, SA.