A citizen-centred approach to public engagement on the ethical, legal and societal issues of health technologies
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Date
2025
Authors
Mayeur, ChloƩ
Howard, Heidi Carmen
Van Hoof, Wannes
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
SAGE Publications Ltd
Published Version
Abstract
Public engagement in health technologies continuously expands thanks to increased recognition and financial support. Yet, the lack of a shared definition and standards enables practitioners to conduct initiatives in ways that prioritise their self-interests over the empowerment of citizens. Experts and policymakers generally design engagement initiatives following rigid protocols to fit their agenda, limiting the influence of citizens upstream. In reaction to this and as an attempt to disambiguate public engagement from an ethical perspective, we investigate its intrinsic value. Starting from the assumption that public engagement must primarily empower citizens and not those who already have enough power to make their voices heard, we argue that the more the engagement process puts citizens at the centre, the more the engagement practice becomes valuable regardless of the methods used. To make the citizen-centred approach a reality, we suggest ethical principles that practitioners could apply across the spectrum of engagement.
Description
Keywords
Citizen-centred , Ethics , Health technologies , Public engagement , Transparency , Trust
Citation
Mayeur, C., Howard, H. C. and Van Hoof, W. (2025) 'A citizen-centred approach to public engagement on the ethical, legal and societal issues of health technologies', Public Understanding of Science, p.09636625251326490. DOI: 10.1177/09636625251326490