Sahlgrenska University Hospital Plans Drone Surveillance in Psychiatric Care Amid Ethical Concerns

Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg is set to deploy drones for monitoring its psychiatric care facility, aiming to enhance safety and allow security staff to focus more on direct patient care. The initiative, part of a broader project funded by Innovationsfonden, will potentially replace approximately 15 security personnel with drones over the next two years, according to project leader Oskar Holmberg.

The hospital's psychiatric area is spread over 16 hectares and contains 101 care beds. "The objective is to redistribute staff towards roles that provide more direct patient interaction, freeing up resources that are currently tied to security monitoring," Holmberg explained. However, the decision has faced significant criticism, particularly from legal and healthcare experts who question the ethical implications associated with monitoring individuals considered vulnerable.

Moa Dahlin, a researcher in public law at Uppsala University, articulated concerns regarding the legality and morality of such surveillance practices. "Monitoring patients raises serious ethical questions and could compel individuals to consent to surveillance under perceived pressure of compliance," she stated. Concerns have also been raised about data privacy, especially with recent changes to regulations that will take effect in April 2025, impacting camera monitoring policies, including those for drone usage.

Matilda Eriksson, vice chair of the Vårdförbundet trade union in Västra Götaland, highlighted the hope that drones would indeed bolster safety but warned of the potential misuse of the data collected in non-clinical contexts. As the project moves forward and begins pilot training for drone operators, the balance between enhanced safety and the rights of psychiatric patients remains a contentious issue.