18. June 2026

Healing Through Data? Ethical Perspectives on the Digital Transformation of Healthcare (Submission Deadline: July 15, 2026) Call for Abstracts – Healing Through Data? (Submission Deadline: July 15, 2026)

Interdisciplinary Conference of the Young Forum of the Görres Society in collaboration with the Center for Life Ethics (University of Bonn)


Medicine and healthcare are shaped by innovation, progress, and data. The current digital transformation is revolutionizing healthcare at an unprecedented pace. From AI-assisted diagnostics and telemedicine consultations to digital health applications (DiGA) and electronic health records, all the way to the use of robotics and AI in diagnostics, therapy, and care. Above all, these technological innovations promise more efficient processes, more precise, personalized therapies, and a reduced workload for all staff.

 

The far-reaching transformation currently underway is clearly more than just a technological or economic process. It touches on the very core of human existence: our vulnerability, our autonomy, and our need for care. The digital transformation of the healthcare system therefore raises pressing ethical questions. Some examples include: How can we safeguard patients’ well-being amid the tension between algorithmic decision-making and medical or nursing expertise? How are technologies changing interpersonal relationships in medicine and nursing? And how can healthcare institutions shape this transformation in a fair and values-driven manner?

 

Everyone interested in the topic—which will be discussed from an interdisciplinary perspective—is invited.

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Topics and Key Questions

We are looking for original contributions that explore the conference theme from a theoretically grounded or application-oriented perspective. The four ethical topics are (non-exhaustive) suggestions, and the guiding questions are intended merely as examples to spark ideas:

                                              

• Medical and Health Ethics
How is AI changing the traditional doctor-patient relationship and the principle of informed consent?
What impact does the increasing quantification of health (e.g., through wearables) have on our understanding of illness and normativity?
How can algorithmic bias and risks of discrimination be prevented in medical diagnostics?
How are data or digital twins changing our perspective on the individuals involved?


• Ethics of Care
How can fundamental principles such as attentiveness, relationality, and empathy be upheld in an increasingly technologized care environment?
Does digitalization lead to a devaluation of human care work, or does it create space for more “humanity”?
How are informal care networks (e.g., family caregivers) changing as a result of tele-care and digital connectivity?


• Organizational Ethics in Healthcare
How can hospitals and long-term care facilities manage the digital transformation in a way that ensures economic efficiency does not come at the expense of ethical standards?
What responsibility do institutions bear for their patients’ data sovereignty and informational self-determination?
How is digitalization changing distributive justice and access to medical resources?
How can AI be used to make shift scheduling and other processes more efficient and equitable?

• Ethics in Care
What are the ethical boundaries of using robotics and automation in professional care?
To what extent can digital assistance systems enhance the autonomy of those in need of care, and where do the risks of isolation or surveillance lie?
How are caregivers’ professional self-image and moral practice changing as a result of their interaction with intelligent systems?

Target Audience: Invitation to an Interdisciplinary Dialogue                                                                                                      
The call for papers is explicitly aimed at early-career researchers (postdocs, doctoral candidates, and advanced master’s students) working at the intersection of medicine, technology, and ethics.
 

You can give presentations lasting approximately 20 minutes, followed by a 20-minute discussion. It is also possible to attend the conference without giving a presentation. We welcome everyone who would like to join the discussion on these topics!
 

We firmly believe that the complexity of digital transformation can only be fully understood through genuine interdisciplinary dialogue. We therefore look forward to submissions from all relevant disciplines, particularly philosophy, theology, medicine, nursing, sociology, law, and computer science. We offer a supportive platform for exploring unformed ideas, discussing innovative research approaches, and networking across disciplinary boundaries.


Formal Guidelines and Submission Process for Presentation Abstracts:
We invite submissions of informative abstracts for presentations (approximately 20 minutes, plus 20 minutes for discussion):                         

  • Abstract Length:
    Maximum of 3,000 characters, including spaces. Please also include a brief biographical note (max. 300 characters).
  • Submission Deadline:
    Please send your abstract in PDF format by July 15, 2026, at the latest to: Martin.Barth@goerres-gesellschaft.de. The organizing committee will decide on the list of presentations after receiving the proposals.
  • Notification:
    Notification of acceptance will be sent by August 30, 2026.

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