Ethical Challenges of Assistive Robotics in the Elderly Care: Review and Reflection

Abstract

Abstract Over the last decade, the range of robotic applications in the healthcare sector has expanded rapidly. These applications can range from dispensing medication to providing more personalized services to caretakers. However, this kind of robotization is associated with severe ethical and societal implications. To advance the design and acceptability of socially interactive robots it is, therefore, necessary to consider and analyze those concerns. The RoPHa research project aims at supporting care-dependent people to lead more independent life. This chapter examines potential ethical challenges and impacts in elderly care that were discussed during the design of the robotic system in the project. For evaluating the effect of assistive robotics on elderly care in practice, the MEESTAR model was applied. The ethical implications of the proposed applications were mapped to seven moral dimensions, such as autonomy, justice, privacy, etc. Each dimension were examined from three different perspectives (individual, organizational, and societal). All identified ethical implications were graded based on the degree of ethical justifiability. The results include ethically relevant questions regarding the role of the robotic system, its technical implications, economic and distrust barriers, occupational safety, data security as well as the legal and safety responsibilities of all involved parties.