Ethical, Legal, and Social Requirements for Assistance Robots in Healthcare

According to forecasts, in 2050 more than 600 million persons worldwide will be in need of care. In many regions of the world, the healthcare sector suffers today already from a shortage of skilled workers, so innovative approaches are required. One possible solution with high future potential are assistance robots that provide support with everyday or work tasks. The aim of this study is to investigate the ethical, legal, and social aspects of the use of assistive robots in clinics and care facilities. Using an online survey, we address 279 decision makers in clinics and care facilities throughout Germany with respect to the ethical, legal, and social implications of the use of assistance robots in healthcare. The results show that the respondents of the study do not see any absolute exclusion criteria for the use of assistance robots regarding ethical, legal, or social issues. The majority of participants are not concerned that robots will replace jobs in the healthcare sector, but rather see them as an opportunity for relief. Especially the personalized communication with robots is viewed positively. The respondents see assistance robots also as an opportunity for more patient autonomy. Regarding data protection, data security and the human contact as a consequence of the introduction of assistance robots, the participants are divided in their opinions. About half of the respondents also expect a change in behavior due to the presence of a robot.