The United Nations Secretary-General recently summarized the world’s state of digital affairs: “The world is shifting from analog to digital faster than ever before, further exposing us to the vast promise and peril of new technologies.”
This contrast of promise against peril is particularly life-threatening in healthcare.
While there is disagreement about how to specifically define trust, it has been described as the “ keystone” of patients’ relationship with health professionals and an important concept in all caring disciplines, where relationships are not necessarily formed by choice. In this context, trust is a set of expectations that the healthcare provider will do the best for the patient, acting with goodwill while recognizing the patient’s vulnerability.
