Surveillance is not safety: a response to Dewa and colleagues’ paper about passive remote monitoring technology (Oxevision)

Technological advances are shifting the landscape of healthcare provision, and mental healthcare is no exception. Whilst technology can improve patient care, it is vital that consideration is given to the perspectives of staff and patients about its implementation in real-world contexts. As mental health service survivors, we therefore welcome Dewa et al’s research, ‘A service evaluation of passive remote monitoring technology for patients in a high-secure forensic psychiatric hospital: a qualitative study’ published in BMC Psychiatry 23:946 [1]. As Dewa et al note, it is the first paper examining the perspectives of staff and patients about remote monitoring technology in mental health settings – an important and timely subject matter. On reading the paper we were however surprised to note significant omissions relating to claims about the safety and legality of Oxevision – the product name for the ‘passive remote monitoring technology’ being researched. We take the opportunity in this Matters Arising piece to outline these omissions, underpinning these concerns with relevant evidence.