An existentialist ethic of technological application and assessment in medicine

Abstract

Medical technology should preserve meaning before prolonging life. It is a matter of justice that technological interventions into circumstances of unavoidable suffering should preserve and facilitate a better understanding of meaning in suffering or alleviate suffering even through hastened death. A longer life is not necessarily a better life. Because of the advancements in medical technology, countless individuals may now be considered chronically ill. Yet, situations of unavoidable suffering may allow for other options such as euthanasia or physician assisted suicide. Technological interventions should be re-evaluated to value an individual assessment of being, not the elongation of life. Such does not prohibit technological interventions, but promotes individual autonomy. Therefore, it is a matter of justice for medical technology to preserve meaning before prolonging life.