Patient safety in e-health and telemedicine

Abstract

Information and communication technologies provide opportunities for medical practice at a distance, including medical information, consulting, diagnosis, or even surgeries. Technologies can overcome physical distances and boundaries and promote wider access to health care. However, telemedicine raises issues of patient safety. The risk of malpractice may increase as both doctors and patients are not physically present, technologies may be unreliable or at least require special training to be operated by electronic means at a distance. Safety and confidentiality of communications are also sensitive questions. How does the legal system cope with the technological challenge? Are there specific rules for telemedicine? This paper addresses the European and national legal framework on telemedicine concerning licensing requirements, reimbursement, jurisdiction and applicable law.