Meeting Ethical Demands in a Multi-Agent Project

Abstract

Various health service and voluntary sector agencies dealing with drug misusers in a large city in the North of England have set up a task group to co-ordinate their assessment and referral process. An IT solution to their needs was believed to be desirable but raises serious issues concerning confidentiality, and the suitability of an IT solution to the particular information problem. The approach is informed by Social Informatics and utilises Soft Systems Methodology within the framework of Joint Application Development.