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Leaving patients to their own devices? Smart technology, safety and therapeutic relationships Ho, Anita; Quick, Oliver

Abstract

Background: This debate article explores how smart technologies may create a double-edged sword for patient safety and effective therapeutic relationships. Increasing utilization of health monitoring devices by patients will likely become an important aspect of self-care and preventive medicine. It may also help to enhance accurate symptom reports, diagnoses, and prompt referral to specialist care where appropriate. However, the development, marketing, and use of such technology raise significant ethical implications for therapeutic relationships and patient safety. Main text: Drawing on lessons learned from other direct-to-consumer health products such as genetic testing, this article explores how smart technology can also pose regulatory challenges and encourage overutilization of healthcare services. In order for smart technology to promote safer care and effective therapeutic encounters, the technology and its utilization must be safe. Conclusion: This article argues for unified regulatory guidelines and better education for both healthcare providers and patients regarding the benefits and risks of these devices.

Item Metadata

Title
Leaving patients to their own devices? Smart technology, safety and therapeutic relationships
Creator
Ho, Anita; Quick, Oliver
Contributor
University of British Columbia. W. Maurice Young Centre for Applied Ethics
Publisher
BioMed Central
Date Issued
2018-03-06
Description
Background: This debate article explores how smart technologies may create a double-edged sword for patient safety and effective therapeutic relationships. Increasing utilization of health monitoring devices by patients will likely become an important aspect of self-care and preventive medicine. It may also help to enhance accurate symptom reports, diagnoses, and prompt referral to specialist care where appropriate. However, the development, marketing, and use of such technology raise significant ethical implications for therapeutic relationships and patient safety. Main text: Drawing on lessons learned from other direct-to-consumer health products such as genetic testing, this article explores how smart technology can also pose regulatory challenges and encourage overutilization of healthcare services. In order for smart technology to promote safer care and effective therapeutic encounters, the technology and its utilization must be safe. Conclusion: This article argues for unified regulatory guidelines and better education for both healthcare providers and patients regarding the benefits and risks of these devices.
Subject
Technology; Telemedicine; Patient safety; Medical ethics; Medical education; Professional regulation; Patient engagement
Genre
Article
Type
Text
Language
eng
Date Available
2018-03-07
Provider
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
Rights
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
DOI
10.14288/1.0364166
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/2429/64760
Affiliation
Other UBC; Non UBC
Citation
BMC Medical Ethics. 2018 Mar 06;19(1):18
Publisher DOI
10.1186/s12910-018-0255-8
Peer Review Status
Reviewed
Scholarly Level
Faculty
Copyright Holder
The Author(s).
Rights URI
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Aggregated Source Repository
DSpace

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Rights

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)