Global Challenges to Human Rights: The Right to Health in the Age of Pandemics and AI

The right to health is enshrined in over 130 national constitutions and many international treaties. Going beyond a right to health care, the right to health encompasses freedoms, such as privacy and informed consent, and other kinds of entitlements, like the right to accurate health information. This course will critically review the global state of the right to health in the age of pandemics and artificial intelligence (AI), examining normative developments, judicial opinions, research, and case studies from advocates worldwide. The course will consider the advantages and limitations of rights-based approaches to combating and preparing for pandemics, including COVID-19, and leveraging AI technologies for public health, such as large language models and other clinical decision support tools. The course will take stock of the human right to health as we stand at the convergence of dramatic advances in health technologies and unique vulnerabilities in the face of global pandemics.