Responsible research and innovation: a productive model for the future of medical innovation

ABSTRACTThis article seeks to deepen our understanding of the responsible research and innovation (RRI) approach as it relates to health care systems, where the notion of responsibility is already deeply embedded. We empirically flesh out the RRI framework developed by Stilgoe et al. by drawing on the content of three mixed focus groups on health care system challenges that technological innovation could help address. These focus groups were held in Montreal (Quebec, Canada) and brought together users of medical technology (patients, clinicians), developers (engineers, designers), and innovation managers (at universities, in hospitals, and in biomedical firms). These empirical data offer contrasting views that are used to explore the four dimensions of the framework (anticipation, reflexivity, inclusion, and responsiveness) in order to derive a more specific understanding of what responsible medical innovation may entail.