Abstract

Pensar Enfermagem / v.30 n.Sup / Jan-Dec 2026 / DOI: 10.71861/pensarenf.v30iSup.518 / e00518

From innovation to ethical impact: a bibliometric mapping of

scientific production on Artificial Intelligence, Ethics and

Global Health

Pedro Henrique Brito da Silva1*, Ellen Synthia Fernandes de Oliveira2, António Pedro Costa3, Maria Alves

Barbosa4

1 PhD student of the Graduate Program in Nursing and Health, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil; orcid.org/0000-0003-3552-0439

2 Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil; orcid.org/0000-0002-0683-2620

3 University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; orcid.org/0000-0002-4644-5879

4 Advisor of the PhD student and of the Graduate Program in Nursing and Health, Federal University of Goiás; orcid.org/0000-0002-0861-9655

* Corresponding author: pedrobryto@gmail.com

Abstract

Introduction

The advancement of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare represents a technological revolution with profound

ethical and clinical implications. However, the benefits and risks of this progress are not equally distributed,

raising questions about bioethical dilemmas and their impact on health and nursing practices. Investigating the

global scientific production on Artificial Intelligence, ethics, and health makes it possible to identify established,

emerging, and neglected topics that are essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly

quality health, innovation, and the reduction of inequalities.

Objective

To map the global scientific production on Artificial Intelligence in healthcare, focusing on ethics, and

identifying trends, gaps, and main contributors in the field.

Methods

A bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases. The analysis

included articles published between January 2015 and May 2025. The data was processed using the Bibliometrix

package in R and visualized with Biblioshiny. The analysis covered annual scientific production, thematic trends,

the evolution of keywords, collaboration networks, and the impact of the sources.

Results

A total of 1,390 documents were analyzed. Scientific production has grown exponentially since 2020. The

thematic analysis showed that "Artificial Intelligence," "Ethics," and "Health" are key topics, while "Bioethics,"

"Privacy," and "Machine Learning" are fundamental topics that are still underdeveloped. The collaboration map

revealed a concentration in North America and Western Europe, highlighting global asymmetries.

Conclusion

There is a strong focus on debates about ethics and Artificial Intelligence, but the development of topics such

as bioethics and social justice remains limited. The practice of nursing and health professionals must play a

strategic role in building inclusive technological solutions, contributing to the reduction of inequalities and

strengthening health systems. Expanding international collaboration and investing in research in the Global

South are urgent for digital equity and ethics in health.

Keywords

Artificial Intelligence; Bioethics; Healthcare; Bibliometrics; Health Professionals; Global Health.

References

Stokes F, Palmer A. Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in Nursing: Ethics of Caring as a Guide to Dividing

Tasks Between AI and Humans. Nurs Philos [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2026 mar 25]; 21(4):e12306. Available from:

http://doi.org.10.1111/nup.12306