Nicosia, Cyprus. The need for closer cooperation between the legal and medical professions in addressing challenges arising from technological advances, artificial intelligence and the protection of patients’ rights was highlighted on Thursday at the first interdisciplinary conference on law and medicine in Nicosia.
The conference, titled Developments in Health Law in Cyprus, was organised by the Cyprus Bar Association and the Cyprus Medical Association and brought together experts to discuss medical liability, patient rights, bioethics, health data and the impact of artificial intelligence on healthcare.
Conference focus
Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides said the conference was an important initiative bringing together two disciplines that play a decisive role in safeguarding human life, dignity and fundamental rights.
He said rapid developments in healthcare, biomedical technology and the digitalisation of health services were creating both opportunities and responsibilities.
“The protection of personal data, the ethical use of artificial intelligence and ensuring transparency are significant challenges that require constant vigilance and cooperation,” he said.
Need for legal adaptation
Charalambides said health law must continuously adapt to meet society’s needs, medical ethics principles and European and international developments.
He added that patient rights, medical liability, bioethics, health data management, artificial intelligence in healthcare and equal access to medical services require meaningful dialogue and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Justice and medicine
Justice Minister Costas Fitiris said the initiative brought together two of the most important pillars of a modern democratic state, justice and medicine, which ultimately serve the same purpose: the individual.
He said the quality of a society is measured not only by economic indicators but also by the health of its citizens, the quality of justice and public trust in institutions.
Reforms and new challenges
Referring to Cyprus, Fitiris highlighted major reforms in the health sector in recent years, particularly the implementation of the national health system, Gesy.
He said technological and scientific progress was also creating new challenges, including artificial intelligence in medicine, genetic data, telemedicine, electronic patient records and cybersecurity.
“Every technological advancement must be accompanied by a clear institutional framework, safeguards and effective protection of citizens’ rights,” he said.
