Option 1- Technology in Healthcare Advances in technology can have a profound impact on the delivery of healthcare. It seems as though technology advances exponentially as past advances launch additional developments. In fact, over the past five years there have been significant technology advances which are changing the way healthcare is delivered. Three of these new advances are 3-D printing, biodegradable electronic implants and the use of an “Ironman” suite for standard limb rehabilitation (Tuten, 2013). Never the less, these advances raise serious concerns regarding their use as well as inequalities in the distribution of these services (Morrison & Furlong, 2014). The ethical dilemma of these advances must be addressed.
3-D Printing …show more content…
Eliminating the need for repetitive surgeries would be highly beneficial. This is where biodegradable electronic implants (also known s “transient electronics”) prove themselves most valuable (Kim, Chun, Whitacreab & Bettinger, 2015). . Rather than having a physician implant an electronic device and then remove the implant after the desired effect is achieved, bio-degradable electronics are implanted or ingested and when their therapeutic and/or diagnostic goals are achieved the device is simply absorbed into the body (Kim, Chun, Whitacreab & Bettinger, 2015). Yet, this technology raises certain ethical …show more content…
A main issue would be that of justice. As one might expect, these suite are incredible costly and the ability for a physician to provide it to all patients regardless of financial standing would be a major challenge. Moreover, this would represent a scarce medical resource and the physician would need to be able to justify their actions in every use of this suit. While every patient may desire this suit and the freedom it provides, due to financial aspects its use might be restricted to those of financial means.
Conclusion
Without question, great benefits come with technology. Yet in each of the new technologies discussed there were also new ethical dilemmas which arose. Despite the existence of these ethical questions, technology must continue to advance and the resulting ethical issues discussed. Failure to advance in technology due to fear of issues that arise would merely result in a different set of ethical issues coming into play. Issues of ethics have presented themselves in the past and will continue to do so as science advances. As this happens, discussions and debates will occur and society will advance as a
3-D Printing …show more content…
Eliminating the need for repetitive surgeries would be highly beneficial. This is where biodegradable electronic implants (also known s “transient electronics”) prove themselves most valuable (Kim, Chun, Whitacreab & Bettinger, 2015). . Rather than having a physician implant an electronic device and then remove the implant after the desired effect is achieved, bio-degradable electronics are implanted or ingested and when their therapeutic and/or diagnostic goals are achieved the device is simply absorbed into the body (Kim, Chun, Whitacreab & Bettinger, 2015). Yet, this technology raises certain ethical …show more content…
A main issue would be that of justice. As one might expect, these suite are incredible costly and the ability for a physician to provide it to all patients regardless of financial standing would be a major challenge. Moreover, this would represent a scarce medical resource and the physician would need to be able to justify their actions in every use of this suit. While every patient may desire this suit and the freedom it provides, due to financial aspects its use might be restricted to those of financial means.
Conclusion
Without question, great benefits come with technology. Yet in each of the new technologies discussed there were also new ethical dilemmas which arose. Despite the existence of these ethical questions, technology must continue to advance and the resulting ethical issues discussed. Failure to advance in technology due to fear of issues that arise would merely result in a different set of ethical issues coming into play. Issues of ethics have presented themselves in the past and will continue to do so as science advances. As this happens, discussions and debates will occur and society will advance as a