A few weeks ago, SCVO, Mhor Collective and Simon Community Scotland were on a panel at the Holyrood Digital Health and Care Conference.
We chatted a lot about co-designing – how essential it is that we work together to understand the challenges of accessing digital health and care, and how we might collectively build trust in these emerging tools. As technology becomes central to managing health, staying informed, and living independent lives, it’s crucial we get it right.
Thinking about this context, and more broadly around our shared work to minimise the impact of digital inequality, we are pleased to share this report co-written by the University of the West of Scotland and Mhor Collective, exploring the vital role of digital ethics in inclusion initiatives.
The report highlights the expertise of incredible third-sector partners, exploring how digital inclusion can be guided by ethical principles. It examines our ethical responsibility and proposes a framework to navigate crucial questions.
Why does this matter? While digital inclusion aims to bridge the gap, initiatives without ethical considerations can unintentionally worsen existing inequalities, perpetuate bias, and compromise privacy. We’re in a unique position to build trust by having open, inclusive conversations.
The report emphasises that all organisations, including non-profits and the NHS, need to embed digital ethics principles like fairness, security, privacy, and user-centricity in their work and need to be able to talk about these issues. This ensures digital tools truly empower individuals and communities, regardless of background, health status, or identity.
The report references The Objects of Trust, a framework for exploring ethical questions around digital tools. This wee YouTube video shows how this framework might be used in practice using NHS Inform as an example.
The report also highlights the link between digital ethics and human rights. It recommends framing digital inclusion within a human rights framework, ensuring everyone’s rights to freedom of expression, privacy, and access to information are protected online. Existing tools like The Alliance’s six Human Rights principles for Digital Health and Social Care offer practical guidance, building on Scottish Care’s Charter on a Human Rights Charter for Technology and Digital in Social Care.
Supporting people in the digital world is crucial for both the public and third sectors, especially the NHS. To do this effectively, we need dedicated resources, clear messaging across tools, and spaces for open discussion on these complex issues.
If you’d like to explore some of the issues highlighted in this paper with your own organisation, we would love to hear from you.
This blog is written by Prof David McGillivray, University of the West of Scotland, Shona Munro, Mhor Collective & Irene Mackintosh, Mhor Collective
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