[Ethical, legal and social requirements for assistive robots in healthcare : Viewpoint of management personnel in hospitals and nursing homes].

BACKGROUND

In 2030 there will be 4 million people in need of care in Germany; however, the nursing care sector is already suffering from a shortage of skilled workers. Innovative approaches are thus required. One possible solution with high future potential is the use of assistive robots that provide support in everyday and work tasks. The aim of this study was to analyze the ethical, legal and social aspects of the use of assistance robots in clinics and care facilities in more detail. The empirical survey addressed decision makers in these organizations who are responsible for making purchasing decisions in the introduction of robotic assistance systems.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Using an online survey, decision makers from more than 160 hospitals and care facilities throughout Germany were interviewed between October and December 2018.

RESULTS

The interviewees of the study did not see any absolute exclusion criteria for the use of assistance robots in care with respect to ethical, legal and social aspects. The majority of the participants were not concerned that assistance robots will replace jobs in healthcare. Especially the personalized communication with robots was predominantly seen as positive. With respect to data protection and the decrease of human contact as a consequence of the introduction of assistance robots, the participants were divided. Half of the interviewees also expected a behavioral change due to the presence of a robot.

CONCLUSION

The study showed that from a top management perspective in hospitals and nursing homes, a clarification specifically of legal questions on data protection is necessary and needs to be addressed by politics. Robot manufacturers should also concentrate on the topics of data protection and data security in order to gain acceptance of their solutions.