The 'economics' of medical technology.

The word 'economics' is used in this paper in its widest sense, referring to issues that 'influence the management, regulation and government of an enterprise'. In addition to the obvious monetary issues in health-care technology, social, ethical, legal and cultural issues are also discussed. The eventual, generally high cost of health care is definitely influenced to a greater or lesser extent by these factors. It is suggested that proper evaluation during the planning stage could lead to the development and introduction of technologies into health care in a more cost-effective way.