Digital Health and International Human Rights Law

HUM-310 / 2 credits

Teacher: Lebret Audrey Régine Michèle

Language: English

Remark: Une seule inscription à un cours SHS+MGT autorisée. En cas d'inscriptions multiples elles seront toutes supprimées sans notification

Summary

The proposed course provides an introduction to international human rights law (IHRL), its interpretation and mechanisms, and analyses its interactions with the use of digital solutions and AI in healthcare

Content

The course will be structured in three parts. In the first part, students will be introduced to international human rights law, exploring its evolution, foundational principles, the nature of State obligations, responsibilities of private actors, and their implications regarding algorithmic accountability in the development and use of digital health solutions. The second part will focus on a detailed examination of specific substantive rights, applied in the context of digital health. In particular, the right to private life and data protection, the right to health, and the right to be free from discrimination will be scrutinised in the context of challenges posed by personalised medicine and AI, including algorithmic biases. Cultural rights and acceptability of digital solutions will also be analysed. Finally, the third part will discuss the implementation and enforcement of international human rights law.

 

Keywords

Digital health, Artificial intelligence, Human Rights, Law, state obligations, business and human rights, Algorithmic Accountability, Algorithmic biases, Medical Devices.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

  • Understanding how IHLR may be used as leverage for sustainable digital health solutions
  • Identify the rights that may be at stake in the development of digital health solutions
  • Reflect on possible shortcomings of the law to address the specific risks of digital health
  • Propose solutions to prevent human rights violations

Teaching methods

Interactive lecturing, supervised group work (case discussions, workshop for poster, poster presentation).

Expected student activities

- Attend and engage in class in case studies and discussions, based on some prior readings

- Co-prepare and present a collective work (poster)

- Individual examination

 

Assessment methods

Students from both EPFL and UNIL will be assessed individually (mid-term multiple-choice questionnaire) and in-groups (poster preparation and oral presentation) at the end of the course.

In addition, students from UNIL FDCA will submit a 3-4 pages written assessment based on a legal question identified by the teacher during the presentation of their poster.

 

 

Supervision

Office hours No
Assistants Yes
Forum Yes
Others Electronic forum

Resources

Bibliography

Resources will be made available on the course's Moodle page.

Moodle Link

In the programs

  • Semester: Spring
  • Number of places: 80
  • Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
  • Subject examined: Digital Health and International Human Rights Law
  • Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: mandatory

Reference week

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