Non-Fungible Tokens as a Mechanism for Representing Patient Consent

James Cunningham, Nigel Davies, Sarah Devaney, Søren Holm, Mike Harding, Victoria Neumann, John Ainsworth

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

In recent years we have seen the adoption of distributed ledger technology (DLT), originally the mechanism underpinning the operation of the Bitcoin crypto currency, across a wider range of technology sectors including healthcare. DLT allows for the design of informatics systems with the properties of immutability, security, and decentralization. One recent innovation in the space has been the specification and development of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). NFTs are decentralized DLT-based records that represent ownership of a unique digital asset. The predominant current use case for NFTs has been in the representation and sale of digital artwork, however the features offered by NFTs, unique-ness, immutability, transferability, and verifiability, are directly applicable to the design of health informatics systems. In this paper we explore these properties and describe a reference architecture for using NFTs as a means of representing and transferring records of patient's consent for medical data use.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationChallenges of Trustable AI and Added-Value on Health
Subtitle of host publicationProceedings of MIE 2022
EditorsBrigitte Séroussi, Patrick Weber, Ferdinand Dhombres, Cyril Grouin, Jan-David Liebe, Sylvia Pelayo, Andrea Pinna, Bastien Rance, Lucia Sacchi, Adrien Ugon, Arriel Benis, Parisis Gallos
Place of PublicationAmsterdam
PublisherIOS Press
Pages382-386
Number of pages5
ISBN (Electronic)9781643682853
ISBN (Print)9781643682846
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022
Event32nd Medical Informatics Europe Conference - Nice, France
Duration: 27 May 202230 May 2022

Publication series

NameStudies in Health Technology and Informatics
PublisherIOS Press
Volume294

Conference

Conference32nd Medical Informatics Europe Conference
Abbreviated titleMIE2022
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityNice
Period27/05/2230/05/22

Keywords

  • blockchain
  • digital health
  • distributed ledger technologies
  • health information technology

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