Because of the rapidly advancing field of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), society is on the brink of a future where these technologies will undoubtedly hold a more significant role. Previously, qualities such as creativity, communication, critical thinking, and learning were deemed unique to humans, but now they are being replicated by AI. These advancements raise fundamental questions such as, “Can intelligent machines truly be considered ‘human’?”
To explore this question, Associate Professor Tomohide Ibuki from Tokyo University of Science, along with medical ethics researcher Dr. Eisuke Nakazawa from The University of Tokyo and nursing researcher Dr. Ai Ibuki from Kyoritsu Women’s University, embarked on a study to investigate whether robots and AI can handle nursing – a highly empathetic practice. Their study, published on 12 June 2023 in the journal Nursing Ethics, analyzed the potential of robotics, human engineering, and human intelligence technologies to replace humans in nursing tasks.
Nurses are known for their empathy and ability to establish meaningful connections with patients, a touch that fosters understanding, trust, and emotional support. The researchers examined whether current advancements in robotics and AI could recreate these human qualities by emulating the ethical concepts associated with human nurses, such as advocacy, accountability, cooperation, and caring.
Advocacy is a crucial aspect of nursing that involves speaking up for patients, ensuring they receive the finest medical care. This encompasses safeguarding patients from medical errors, providing treatment information, respecting patient preferences, and mediating between hospitals and patients. While AI can inform patients about medical errors and present treatment options, the researchers questioned its capacity to genuinely comprehend and empathize with patients’ values and to effectively navigate interpersonal relationships as mediators.
Accountability for their actions is another concern raised by the researchers. They propose the development of explainable AI, which would provide insights into the decision-making process of AI systems, thereby enhancing accountability.
Furthermore, effective collaboration with colleagues and other healthcare professionals is essential for nurses to ensure optimal patient care. As humans rely on visual cues to establish trust and relationships, unfamiliarity with robots may hinder efficient cooperation. Recognizing this issue, the researchers emphasized the need for further investigation to determine the appropriate appearance of robots for facilitating effective collaboration with human medical staff.
While robots and AI have the potential to understand a patient’s emotions and provide appropriate care, patient acceptance is crucial. Considering these four ethical concepts, the researchers acknowledge that while robots may not completely replace human nurses in the near future, they do not rule out the possibility. Although robots and AI can potentially address the nurse shortage and improve treatment outcomes, their deployment must be carefully evaluated for ethical implications and impact on nursing practice.
While the present analysis does not dismiss the possibility of incorporating ethical concepts of nursing into robots and AI in the future, it does highlight the existence of several ethical questions. Further research not only holds the potential for addressing these questions but also for unearthing new discoveries in ethics.
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