Keywords
How to Cite
Abstract
This article analyzes the advances and challenges of telemedicine in Brazil, recognized as a strategic tool for expanding access to healthcare, driven by technological progress and definitively regulated by the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM). The trajectory of national telehealth has been marked by significant transformations in the use of remote communication technologies, with its expansion accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, the emergency regulation of this practice culminated in the enactment of Law No. 14.510/2022, which provided legal support for remote medical care. The objective of this study is to identify the main errors that medical professionals must avoid in the practice of telemedicine, based on a critical analysis of scientific, normative, and doctrinal literature on the subject. To this end, a bibliographic review was conducted with emphasis on publications from the last five years, consulting the SciELO, Scopus, REASE, and LILACS databases. The investigation highlights the importance of professional civil liability, informed patient consent, and compliance with the General Data Protection Law (LGPD). As a result, it presents a synthesis of practices to be avoided and essential ethical-legal precautions for safe telemedicine practice. Thus, the study reinforces the potential of telemedicine as an instrument of health equity, provided it is used under appropriate technical, legal, and ethical standards.
References
ARAÚJO, M. S. et al. Telemedicine in Brazil: challenges and possibilities in the context of the pandemic. Brazilian Journal of Digital Health, v. 5, n. 2, p. 103-115, 2023.
BOAS, J. R. F. et al. History of telemedicine and its application in world wars. Journal of the History of Medicine, v. 18, n. 1, p. 45-60, 2022.
BRAZIL. Civil code. Law No. 10,406, of January 10, 2002. Establishes the Civil Code. Diário Oficial da União, Brasília, DF, 11 jan. 2002.
BRAZIL. Law No. 9,656, of June 3, 1998. Provides for private health care plans and insurance. Federal Official Gazette, Brasília, DF, June 4, 1998
BRAZIL. Law No. 13,709, of August 14, 2018. Provides for the protection of personal data. Diário Oficial da União, Brasília, DF, 15 ago. 2018.
BRAZIL. Law No. 14,510, of December 27, 2022. Amends Law No. 12,842/2013 to provide for the practice of telehealth. Official Gazette of the Union, Brasília, DF, 28 Dec. 2022. Available at: https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2019-2022/2022/lei/L14510.htm. Accessed on: 19 Jan 2025.
BRAZIL. Law No. 8,078, of September 11, 1990. Consumer Protection Code. Federal Official Gazette, Brasília, DF, 12 Sep. 1990.
BUENO, M.; TAVARES, A. C. M. Actors and networks in the regulation of telemedicine in Brazil. Law and Health Journal, v. 34, p. 1-18, 2024. Available at: https://www.scielo.br/j/cebape/a/FyYGf3JrjyV9DyDmtrKNg9x/. Accessed on: 3 Apr 2025
CEZÁRIO, L. Telemedicine and innovation: between the digital SUS and data protection. Brazilian Journal of Public Policies, v. 14, n. 2, p. 88-97, 2024. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.22278/2318-2660.2024.v48.n2.a4010. Accessed on: 3 Apr 2025.
FEDERAL COUNCIL OF MEDICINE. Resolution No. 2,314, of April 20, 2022. Defines and regulates telemedicine. Federal Official Gazette, Brasília, DF, May 5, 2022. Available at: https://sistemas.cfm.org.br/normas/arquivos/resolucoes/BR/2022/2314_2022.pdf. Accessed on: 19 Jan 2025.
FEDERAL COUNCIL OF MEDICINE. CFM Resolution No. 1,643, of August 26, 2002. It defines and regulates the provision of services through Telemedicine. Diário Oficial da União, Brasília, DF, 26 ago. 2002.
FEDERAL COUNCIL OF MEDICINE. Code of Medical Ethics. CFM Resolution No. 2,217/2018. Diário Oficial da União, Brasília, DF, 1 nov. 2018.
FUTURE OF HEALTH. Health retrospective 2024: the main events of the year. Available at: https://futurodasaude.com.br/retrospectiva-2024-da-saude/. Accessed on: 14 Apr. 2025.
MORAES, K. E. F.de; DE OLIVEIRA, N. L.; CRUZ, C. G. G. Teleconsultation and the Guarantee of the Right to Health. Revista Foco, [S. l.], v. 16, n. 11, p. e3524, 2023. DOI: 10.54751/revistafoco.v16n11-021. Available at: https://ojs.focopublicacoes.com.br/foco/article/view/3524. Accessed on: 14 Apr. 2025.
MARTINS, A. C.; TELES, P. R. Medical civil liability and data protection in telemedicine. Revista Bioética, Brasília, v. 29, n. 1, p. 55-64, 2021.
MALDONADO, L. A. Telehealth and development: an analysis of the implementation of public policy in Brazil. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva Journal, v. 21, n. 8, p. 2479-2488, 2016. Available at: https://www.scielo.br/j/csp/a/54bg8d5mfWmCC9w7M4FKFVq/?lang=pt. Accessed on: 02 Apr 2025
NUNES, E. M. et al. Telemedicine and primary care: challenges and contributions to the family health strategy. Revista de Saúde Pública, São Paulo, v. 50, n. 1, p. 98-107, 2016. Available at: https://www.scielo.br/j/cadsc/a/rQ75CbqFXcSvnv5wPYc5w5N/?lang=pt. Accessed on: 3 Apr 2025.
OLIVEIRA, M. R.; SILVA, T. P. Judicialization and access to digital health: analysis of telemedicine coverage. Journal of Law and Technology, v. 9, n. 1, p. 22-40, 2024.
SANTOS, S. M. A. V.; FRANQUEIRA, A. da S. Digital inclusion and telehealth in Brazil: equity challenges. Brazilian Journal of Digital Health, v. 5, n. 1, p. 10-19, 2024. Available at: Available at: https://periodicorease.pro.br/rease/article/view/16190. Accessed: 3 Feb 2025.
SANTOS, D. L. F.; ARAÚJO, L. Z. S. Ethical implications of the use of medical teleconsultations in Brazil. Revista Eletrônica Acervo Saúde, v. 15, n. 10, p. e1142, 2022.
SARLET, I. W.; SARLET, C. R. Telemedicine in the context of the constitutional protection of the right to health. Journal of Constitutional and International Law, v. 31, n. 4, p. 117-135, 2023.
TJMT – COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE STATE OF MATO GROSSO. Civil Appeal No. 1001086-96.2021.8.11.0025. Rel. Des. João Ferreira Filho. Judged on 28 Nov. 2023. Available at: https://www.jusbrasil.com.br. Accessed on: 14 Apr. 2025.
TJSP – COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE STATE OF SÃO PAULO. Interlocutory Appeal – District of São José dos Campos – Case No. 2259654-63.2022.8.26.0000. Rel. Des. Maria Lúcia Pizzotti. Judged on: 10 Oct. 2022. Available at: https://www.jusbrasil.com.br. Accessed on: 14 Apr. 2025.
WEN, C. L. Telemedicine: current panorama and perspectives for Brazil. Journal of the Brazilian Society of Family and Community Medicine, v. 15, n. 1, p. 1-12, 2020.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 Flaelma Almeida da Silva, Beatriz Conti Boniares, Diogo Castro de Almeida