Ethics toolbox
The aim of the Ethics Unit is to provide an ethical framework for the development of eHealth.
Getting started

The mission of the eHealth Ethics Unit is to make ethics a central element of the digital shift in health, in particular by developing practical tools for evaluating, certifying, and raising awareness of digital tools, whether they are services for health professionals or mobile apps, especially for citizens, to be listed on the "Pro Services Package" and "Health Data Personal Space" platforms.
For example, best practice guides are being developed to encourage start-ups and publishers to integrate an ethical dimension into the design of an artificial intelligence solution for health (the principle of "ethics by design"). A self-assessment grid for the ethical dimension of professional tools (HIS and practice management software) will also be developed.
It will also be necessary to initiate a digital streamlining approach to reduce the environmental impact (in particular greenhouse gas emissions) of health information systems, with a view to committing the sponsors and stakeholders of eHealth projects to sustainable development.
In practice
Your digital tool must meet certain requirements (content, ethics and privacy) to be included in the Health Data Personal Space (ENS).
Read the ethical guidelines.
When ?
Ethical guidelines to be published Q1 2021
Compliance
Art. L. 1111-13-1.-III - Article 45
Art. L. 1111-13-1.-III (Art 45 of law no. 2019-774 of 24 July 2019 on the organisation and transformation of the health system)
Read Art. L. 1111-13-1.-III (in French)
Documentation
Roadmap
Next steps in the project:
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WG1 - Production of a second series of animated films to raise awareness of eHealth ethics
Q4 2022 and H1 2023:
4 upcoming films on:
- Tele-expertise
- Teleconsultation
- Mon Espace Santé
- Consent
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WG2 - Production of the "Ethics and sustainable development" pillar of the Maturin-H HIS certification standard (including a HIS carbon footprint calculator and HIS eco-score)
Q4 2022 Trial of a simplified version of the HIS eco-score in parallel with the Maturin-H trial
H1 2023 Trial of the "Ethics and sustainable development" pillar within the Maturin-H standard
H2 2023 Broad roll-out of the certification standard and the HIS eco-score
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WG3 - Work on the ethics of AI
H2 2022 Dissemination and promotion of the "Ethics by design in AI" guide
H1 and H2 2023: The working group will do more detailed work on the guide and formalise the standard for the ethics of digital services that include AI solutions
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WG4 - Production of e-Codes of Conduct for Order-based professions
2023: Launching the work
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WG6 - Environmental impact of eHealth
H1 2022 Trial of the eco-score by publishers applying for Mon Espace Santé listing
H2 2022 Broad roll-out of the eco-score – a mandatory criterion for referencing to Mon Espace Santé and launch of work on assessing the environmental impact of other eHealth tools and services
H1 and H2 2023: Work on the development of new eco-scores
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WG7 - Production of an ethics assessment grid for PMSs
H2 2022: Grid trial
H1 2023 Formalisation of the PMS ethics standard
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WG8 - Production of the "Ethics of Telehealth” practical guides
H2 2022: Publication of a first version of a guide to telehealth ethics
H1 2023 Testing the guide with players in the field
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WG9 - 10: Digital divides – Broad roll-out of the Mon Espace Santé support system
2023: continuous
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WG9 - 10: Digital divides – making training content available
2023: continuous
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WG11 - Production of the ethical evaluation grid for ESMS ISs
H2 2022: Launching the work
H1 2023 Grid trial
H2 2023: Formalisation of the ESMS IS ethics standard
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Ethicovigilance platform
H2 2022: Development of the platform
H1 2023: Trial on a limited scope
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Cross-cutting: Production of the CENS (eHealth Ethics Framework) (equivalent to the CI-SIS and the PGSSI-S for ethics)
2023
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Ethical standard for health apps
Continuous: Review of applications for MES listing for the Ethics chapter
Our experts on the subject
Finding your way around the technical framework
The technical framework describes the actions in the ministerial roadmap for the eHealth shift.
