Considering Medical Technology use, Ethics and Litigation

Abstract

Medical resources such as technology are generally limited and should be used in such a manner as to benefit not only those in private healthcare but all individuals requiring ‘good quality’ healthcare. Patients are generally passive users of technologies and trust both the technologies and their medical practitioners. It is, however, often the case that things go awry and litigation follows the use of a certain technology. The result is a large amount of increases in claims made to medical schemes for medical technology usage, a situation which is untenable. Any decision to introduce new medical technology necessitates that it not only increases the chances of patient survival and/or quality of life, but that it should also be economically viable and necessary to fulfil objectives that are not attainable through existing technologies that may cost less. Trust, is a central aspect of doctor patient relationships and the use of technologies can augment or reduce that interpersonal relationship. This is a trust that should not be abused, be it wilfully or unintentionally. Medical device users include medical practitioners such as inter alia clinicians, patients and carers and each of these must be confident about the use of technology and be ethical in its application. Thus, a principle-based approach should be adopted in medical technology use. Part of which are doing the right things for the right reasons, becomes the mantra.