The ethical issues around mHealth are one reason consumers are wary of health devices, and many deal closely with the privacy of what is a person's most private information. A recent Parks Associates report found that about 35 percent of consumers say they fear their health data will not remain confidential if put online, and 23 percent of broadband household owners cite privacy and security concerns in using connected health devices.

The JMIR viewpoint's authors add that there currently is no regulation of mHealth devices or apps, and no guarantee that they provide clinically accurate information. However, this summer the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released guidelines for how it intends to regulate the marketing of mHealth apps that meet the definition of medical devices.

From the article "How mHealth developers can avoid ethical dilemmas" by Judy Mottl.