JUST IMPATIENT PATIENTS? THE IMPACT OF HEALTHCARE PRIVATISATION AND COMMERCIALISATION ON THE ADOPTION OF DO-IT-YOURSELF ARTIFICIAL PANCREAS SYSTEMS BY PEOPLE WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES.

Abstract

The last decade has witnessed the development of a novel diabetes technology: the Do-It-Yourself Artificial Pancreas System (DIYAPS). The novelty of the DIYAPS lies in an algorithm that automates insulin delivery to people with type 1 diabetes (PWT1D), thereby improving the health outcomes usually obtained by standard diabetes technologies. DIYAPS are freely available and developed by PWT1D as a response to the slow development of life-enhancing technology by commercial parties, under the motto #WeAreNotWaiting. In this paper, I explore how the DIYAPS movement can be seen as a reaction to the marketisation of health technology and, linked to that, privatisation in healthcare. I argue that members of the DIYAPS movement can be characterised as health-optimisers. They take responsibility for enhancing their own and their fellow PWT1D’s wellbeing, and demonstrate a desire for greater independence from medical professionals. At the same time, they actively resist participating in the commodification of health. They do not pay for the newest, most innovative health technology. Instead, they create it themselves. As such, the DIYAPS case draws attention to how, in response to marketisation and privatisation in healthcare, the self-reliant, responsible expert-patient may come to shape their patienthood by taking matters into their own hands.