Six major international organizations representing patients, healthcare professionals, hospitals, and the pharmaceutical industry have jointly announced a new ethical principle addressing the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) and health data in medicine. This marks the fifth principle under the International Consensus Framework for Ethical Collaboration (ICF), which was first established in 2014 to guide cooperation across the healthcare sector with a strong emphasis on transparency, patient welfare, and ethical standards.
The newly introduced principle underscores the need for safeguarding patient autonomy, ensuring responsible data stewardship, and fostering shared accountability among all stakeholders involved in healthcare AI—from hospitals and regulators to industry partners and healthcare professionals. By doing so, the initiative seeks to uphold public trust while encouraging innovation that benefits both patients and healthcare systems.
The announcement was welcomed by representatives of the signatory organizations. Ronald Lavater, CEO of the International Hospital Federation, emphasized the need for collaboration to navigate the digital transformation of healthcare. Howard Catton, CEO of the International Council of Nurses, stressed that ethical principles must keep pace with rapid technological change. Dani Mothci, CEO of the International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations, highlighted the importance of patient control over personal health data and called for stronger patient engagement in the digital era.
Other supporting organizations, including the World Medical Association, the International Pharmaceutical Federation, and the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), echoed the call for ethical oversight in the deployment of AI technologies. They noted that ethical collaboration must evolve in tandem with innovation to ensure health systems remain both effective and equitable.
This joint commitment reflects a growing global consensus on the importance of ethical governance in the age of AI, positioning patient rights and data responsibility at the heart of healthcare’s technological future.
(Source: IFPMA)