Health

The Caring Technology Guide: a practical tool for ethical innovation in healthcare

Technology plays an increasingly significant role in the healthcare sector, but it is essential that innovations are not only smart but also responsible and human-centred. With the Caring Technology Guide, VITO provides a practical tool to help evaluate and develop healthcare technology in an ethically responsible and effective way. The guide is based on the eight guiding principles for caring technology (8CTP). This scientifically grounded framework was developed and funded by the Dr Daniël De Coninck Fund and the King Baudouin Foundation, in collaboration with academia, the healthcare sector, the technology industry, and ethicists, helping organisations align technology with the needs of end users.

Press release Désirée De Poot 11 March 2025

The 8CTP principles form the core of the guide, providing a framework to assess how technology contributes to better care and well-being. These principles focus on key aspects such as prioritising the end user and their autonomy, ensuring privacy and data security, promoting inclusion, and bridging the digital divide. Additionally, they encourage collaboration within the healthcare and innovation landscape while fostering continuous quality assurance and societal integration. By applying these principles, technology developers and healthcare organisations can ensure that their innovations are not only technically advanced but also caring and responsible.

A three-step approach

The Caring Technology Guide offers a structured, practice-oriented approach to integrating these principles into the development and implementation of healthcare technologies. The tool guides users through three key steps:

Planning – The guide helps users create a roadmap to gradually integrate the 8CTP principles into the development process.
Evaluation – Users assess the technology using targeted questions and a step-by-step evaluation method. The tool then provides a visual representation of the results.
Action Plan – The guide supports users in defining concrete action points, assigning responsibilities, and setting deadlines. For each principle, the tool offers practical tips, methodologies, and links to organisations that can provide further guidance.

This tool is designed not only for the development of new technologies but also for the evaluation and improvement of existing innovations, ensuring they better align with the needs of the healthcare sector and end users. The guide was co-developed by Yuza and Thomas More, who contributed to the content and tested it with the target audience.

With this guide, VITO takes an important step in supporting ethical healthcare innovation. Moving forward, the Caring Technology Guide will be continuously refined based on feedback from end users.

The Caring Technology Guide is freely accessible via caringtechnology.be/toolbox or directly at 8ctp.vito.be.

Visual representation of the evaluation of a technology based on the 8CTP.

The eight principles

Support users' needs and autonomy – Technology should enhance quality of life and empower individuals to make their own choices.
Encourage participation through integration – Create an integrated ecosystem where all stakeholders collaborate effectively.
Ensure genuine informed consent – Guarantee that users are fully informed and voluntarily agree to the use of technology.
Use data securely for personal health and public interest – Protect privacy and ensure responsible use of data.
Reduce digital and health inequalities – Ensure technology is accessible to everyone, regardless of their background.
Create participatory governance – Involve all stakeholders in the development and implementation of technology.
Implement quality assurance and control – Maintain high-quality standards and ensure continuous evaluation of technologies.
Align innovation with broader societal frameworks – Ensure that technological innovations adhere to fundamental societal and ethical principles.