Deus ex machina or e-slave? Public perception of healthcare robotics in the German print media.

OBJECTIVES

The news media plays a central role in providing information regarding new medical technologies and exerts an influence on their social perception, understanding, and assessments. This study, therefore, analyzes how healthcare robotics are portrayed in the German print news media. It examines whether the risks and opportunities of new medical technologies are presented in a balanced manner and investigates whether or not print media coverage of these technologies is affected by science-fiction discourse, in which robots appear mostly as a threat to humans.

METHODS

Ten years of German print media coverage (2000-2010) have been studied by means of systematic, standardized content analysis.

RESULTS

Reporting focuses predominantly on beneficial advancements in medical practice and the advantages of robotics for patients, medical staff, and society. The results show that the dominant relationship between robots and humans that is transmitted in print media in medical contexts is positive, with robots mostly portrayed as assistants, colleagues, or even friends. Only a small number of articles report ethical questions and risks.

CONCLUSIONS

In contrast to science-fiction discourse, the German print media provides a positive picture of robotics to the lay public.