Faculty of Philosophy, Dominican University College, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Faculty of Philosophy, St. Paul University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Bioethics. 2022 Feb;36(2):170-177. doi: 10.1111/bioe.12968. Epub 2021 Oct 20.
Recent research points to the fact that new medical technological innovations are just as relevant in the context of long-term care or chronic care as they are in the context of acute care. In the spirit of the Nuffield Foundation recommendations, this paper explores the possibilities of using robotic aides in long-term care and identifies the tensions that must be considered and addressed if robotics is to be introduced successfully in nursing homes. Our examination is two-pronged. First, we delve into a fundamental issue surrounding AI, namely that of consciousness. We argue that automation will always have only a limited use in caregiving since caregiving as an activity requires the use of human-type, that is, organic, consciousness. We support the thesis that the emergence and formation of human-type consciousness require feelings such as empathy and the sense of touch, which, in turn, create the sense of kinship with fellow human beings. And second, we examine the benefits as well as risks of using robotic aides such as ZORA and PARO in long-term care facilities. More specifically, we look at ZORA's use in a group setting, and PARO's use in an individual setting. We emphasize that long-term care is one-on-one care, including but not limited to intimate care. Crucially, we argue that touch is at the heart of this type of care. We argue that some of the tensions with the use of robotic aides are generated precisely because of the lack of human touch.
最近的研究指出，新的医疗技术创新在长期护理或慢性病护理方面与急性护理同样重要。本着纳菲尔德基金会的建议精神，本文探讨了在长期护理中使用机器人助手的可能性，并确定了如果要成功地将机器人引入养老院，必须考虑和解决的紧张局势。我们的研究有两个方面。首先，我们深入探讨了人工智能周围的一个基本问题，即意识问题。我们认为，自动化在护理方面的应用将始终受到限制，因为护理作为一种活动需要使用人类类型的意识，即有机意识。我们支持这样的论点，即人类类型意识的出现和形成需要同理心和触觉等感觉，而这些感觉反过来又会与人类建立起亲情关系。其次，我们研究了在长期护理机构中使用 ZORA 和 PARO 等机器人助手的好处和风险。更具体地说，我们研究了 ZORA 在集体环境中的使用以及 PARO 在个人环境中的使用。我们强调，长期护理是一对一的护理，包括但不限于亲密护理。至关重要的是，我们认为触摸是这种护理的核心。我们认为，使用机器人助手的一些紧张局势正是由于缺乏人类触摸而产生的。
