Ethical Concerns About the Use of Assistive Technologies

Abstract

Uptake of possible beneficial assistive technology is presently hampered by ethical concerns. It is important to examine the ethical issues raised by distinct types of existing technologies in more detail than has been done previously to obtain a nuanced judgment as to whether public health authorities and healthcare personnel should inform patients and interested stakeholders about them, offer patients and their informal caregivers more choice concerning the use of available assistive technologies, or even actively recommend some of them. The present chapter will focus on four examples of assistive technologies that, despite having been available for some time and being relatively simple to use, are not widely implemented: memory aid technology, “smart dresser” devices designed to help dementia patients with getting dressed, GPS tracking devices, and sensors to monitor patients in their private homes such as an intelligent wireless sensor system for the rapid detection of health issues. The first two technologies are chosen as examples for “aid” technology where the risk of harm is very low compared to significant benefits for patients, caregivers, and society. The second two are chosen because of their ethically relevant characteristics of control: their aim is patient surveillance and monitoring. The ethical issues related to these technologies will be discussed and conclusions drawn on how to appropriately balance beneficence and respect for patient autonomy.