Navigating Ethical Challenges in Arts-Based Research in Medicine

Arts-based research (ABR) in medicine provides innovative ways to understand and communicate health-related experiences, using methods such as photography, poetry, and filmmaking to explore complex patient narratives. However, the integration of artistic methodologies into medical research introduces unique ethical challenges, including informed consent, confidentiality, emotional safety, and power dynamics in participant-researcher relationships. This paper examines these issues in the context of arts-based participatory action research with Canadians living with rheumatological diseases. It emphasizes the need for reflexivity, collaborative partnerships, and cultural competence to ensure equitable representation and participant agency. By fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, this study aims to establish a robust ethical framework for arts-based methodologies, ensuring their transformative potential in health advocacy, education, and policy-making. Keywords: Arts-based research, Ethics in medicine Participatory action research, Narrative medicine, Reflexivity in research.