The 2019 Jaharis Symposium, titled “‘Democratizing’ Medicine in a Data and Tech Driven World,” addressed significant and pressing questions of law and policy that will inevitably arise from the adoption of technological and data-driven innovation in medicine. The day-long interdisciplinary symposium was co-sponsored by the Mary and Michael Jaharis Health Law Institute and the Center for Intellectual Property Law & Information Technology (CIPLIT®).
Technological and data-driven innovations are often heralded as breakthroughs that will “democratize” medicine, by promising to vastly improve access – both to knowledge and medical services – and to allow those who are affected by the discoveries to
collaborate in their development. Featured speakers included Afia Asamoah, JD, MPP, Senior Counsel, Product, Regulatory, and Policy at Verily Life Sciences (formerly Google Life Sciences, an Alphabet company) and Patrick M. McCarthy, MD, Executive Director of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Northwestern Medicine and the Heller-Sacks Professor of Surgery in
the Feinberg School of Medicine and Chief of Cardiac Surgery.
In addition, renowned panelists from the fields of law, technology, and medicine delved into the scientific, ethical, and legal implications of some contemporary examples of “do-it-yourself” and “do-it-together” medicine. The first panel addressed complex and fascinating ethical and legal issues pertaining to the introduction of artificial intelligence in medicine,
while the second panel discussed what is collectively referred to as “do it together” medicine: citizen science, participant-driven research, and precision medicine. The final panel addressed biohacking, or “do it yourself” medicine – altering or conducting research on one’s own body. The speakers explored technology’s promise of collaboration and accessibility, while raising
legitimate legal and ethical concerns about ownership, justice, and the law’s ability to keep up with innovation. The symposium discussed important policy and ethical
issues and offered practical insight into how the law (and practicing lawyers) can address questions that arise as new technologies impact the practice of
medicine.
A full house of students, faculty, local practitioners, and alumni attended the symposium in person, providing lively debate and opportunities for continued learning. The featured talks and panels are now available for viewing on the symposium website, at http://go.depaul.edu/jhlivideo. DePaul Law Alumni can obtain Illinois MCLE credit, including professionalism credit, at no cost by viewing the on-demand seminar videos.