Robotics and autonomous devices in social and health care
At a glance
- Project leader : Prof. Dr. Heidrun Becker
- Deputy of project leader : Mandy Scheermesser
- Project team : Prof. Dr. Holger Auerbach, Michael Früh, Richard Alexander Hüppi, Flurina Meier, Dr. Yvonne Treusch, Prof. Dr. Hans Wernher van de Venn
- Project status : completed
- Funding partner : Foundation (Stiftung für Technologiefolgen-Abschätzung TA-SWISS)
- Contact person : Verena Klamroth-Marganska
Description
Background :
Demographic developments, shortage of skilled personnel and growing
economic pressure in the health sector lead to an increased focus
on technical solutions in the field of medical care and treatment
of people. So far, robots are mainly technology-driven and still in
the development and testing phase. An assessment of opportunities
and risks, however, has yet to be realized.
Goal:
The present study shows the current status and macro trends of
robotics in health care. It assesses opportunities and risks in
view of a technically feasible, economically achievable and
ethically desirable use of robotics in health care. It furthermore
formulates recommendations for politicians and other decision
makers on the basis of these findings.
Methods:
To determine the current status and trends, the TA-Swiss-Study has
worked with an extensive literature review on current developments,
prototypes and their use in practice. This analysis proceeds from a
systematic search of various databases and a complementary internet
search. This literature pool served as the basis to evaluate the
current status, to compile an environment analysis with the
PESTEL-method, and to determine macro trends. Furthermore, by means
of focus-group interviews, it was possible to perform a stakeholder
survey and draw up a needs assessment on the basis of which seven
key factors were elaborated and ten theses composed. These were
then scrutinized and discussed in detail in a subsequent workshop
with experts from the fields of politics, economy, society, ethics,
technology and law. On the basis of the findings form the
literature review and the stakeholder survey, the TA-Swiss-Study
has worked out three scenarios of possible future developments in
the use of robots in health care. The scenarios allow the
highlighting of opportunities and risks, the specifying of need and
options for action by politics, research and health care, and in
conclusion the drawing up of recommendations for the involved
decision makers.
Results :
The field of robotics is characterized by diversity and a different
complexity of the devices. Most of the identified models can be
classified into three groups according to their functions:
1. Training aids and aids for movement, for the purpose of mobility
and autonomy
2. Devices which complement or facilitate people's life, or which
can serve as
their physical proxy
3. Devices which accompany and interact with peopleThe majority of
the devices are still in the development and testing phase and only
to some extent employed in practice.
Innovation in the field of technology is a substantial driver for
new applications in health care. Technical feasibility and economic
efficiency, however, are not the only factors in the introduction
of robotic devices. Acceptance on the part of the involved
stakeholders plays a significant role, an acceptance that is
influenced by cultural background, legal and ethical considerations
as well as social, psychological and individual factors. Among the
opportunities of the use of robots in health care is the assistance
they provide for professional and non-professional users, for
example family member caregivers. Technical innovation can provide
an increase in autonomy and mobility and lead to an improved
integration and better quality of life for patients as well as
their families. On an institutional level, robotics provides a
rationalization potential in the area of organizational and
logistic processes. All in all, in addition to assisting health
care professionals and at the same time contributing to mitigating
the shortage of qualified health care professionals, they would
improve the quality of care for patients and people in need of
care. One of the risks is that through the use of robots there
would be less personal contact between patients and health
professionals. This could have negative effects on the patients’
wellbeing and their convalescence and could even lead to isolation.
Furthermore, the nurse profession and other health care professions
could become less attractive, which in turn could further increase
the shortage of skilled health care professionals. Another risk
lies with particularly vulnerable people incapable of giving their
informed consent for the use of robots themselves. Furthermore, a
delicate matter is the potential misuse of the data collected by
the devices, and the liability question in case of damages caused
by semiautonomous robots. On an institutional level, there is
reason to worry that economic pressure could lead to a favoured use
of devices, which could be economically advantageous but could be
disadvantageous for people concerned, for example as a result of
possible loss of contact or possible job cuts. Moreover, due to an
almost total lack of benefit-cost analyses dealing with the use of
robots in health care, the risk that their use may lead to
increased costs cannot be ruled out.
Conclusions :
Insufficient regulation for instance in liability law, data
protection and ethics is already leading to risks for people
dealing with such devices in research, testing and practice. An
attitude of expectation and reaction translates into a willingness
to accept these risks. Measures such as the clarification of
liability laws and data protection are therefore necessary and
cannot be postponed to an indefinite future. Evidently, a proactive
and coordinated policy framework is required to minimize the risks
of the use of robotics in the health care environment and to allow
to fully benefit from the opportunities and advantages it
presents.
Further information
Publications
-
2017.
In:
Seismograph «Die Welt von morgen - Prognosen. Utopien. Science Fiction», Basel, 1. April 2017.
-
Becker, Heidrun Karin; Ziegler, Rita,
2013.
Robotertechnik : Chance oder Risiko für die Gesundheitsversorgung?.
Impulse für Gesundheitsförderung.
79(2), pp. 18.
-
2013.
Robotics and autonomous devices in health care : a technology assessment study.
In:
PACITA 2013 Conference, Prague, Czech Republic, 13-15 March 2013.
Technology Centre ASCR.