The Human Challenge of Telemedicine

by Philippe Bardy Telepatients using connected objects to collect time-sensitive data about their health are not neutral carriers of diagnosable symptoms. Patients are persons, or personal beings as well as co-carers, whose personal experience, history and know-how must be acknowledged in time-sensitive telecare practices. Such practices require a relational ethics, inspired by medical ethics and an ethics of virtues, focusing on vulnerability and emotional health, to oversee telecare good practices, define a new therapeutic alliance compliant with patients’ values, and reconcile the technical and human sides of telemedicine. The ethical challenges of telemedicine in chronic patients today The key features of a person-centered and relational ethics in telemedical settings The concepts of “emotional health” care and “chrono-sensitivity” of the “connected” sick body