There’s an App for That

Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics: Petrie Dishes

How Should We Regulate Digital Health Technology?

The current digital health marketplace has been described as a wild west. Every day, consumer products making strong claims are brought to market without sufficient evidence and often withdrawn only when enforcement actions are brought against them. There are already apps that claim to detect melanomas, treat ADHD, and improve vision.

This episode delves into the exploding world of digital health apps. Are they safe? What happens when they make false claims? And how should we regulate them? Cynthia Chauhan (a patient advocate) shares what patients want from these apps; Anand Shah (a former deputy FDA commissioner) and Nic Terry (an expert in the intersection of health, law, and technology) shed light on the fast-shifting regulatory landscape.

Created with support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the Cammann Fund at Harvard University.