Chapter Digital Health

Abstract

Digital health is a key topic within Science and Technology Studies (STS). This chapter outlines central aspects of digital health, including electronic health records, telemedicine, eHealth, and mHealth. Drawing on empirical examples, it examines how digital health technologies shape healthcare practices and affect the distribution of benefits, risks, and burdens. As a theme, digital health illustrates central tensions dealt with in STS between technological determinism and social determinism, as well as between technology optimism and pessimism. The chapter underscores the ongoing relevance of STS in understanding and critically analyzing digital health phenomena.