ETHICAL ASPECTS OF ROBOTICS IN CONTEMPORARY MEDICAL PRACTICE

Abstract

Introduction: The insertion of technology in hospital environments was a priori due to the need for assistance in simpler functions, so that health professionals could pay more attention to activities considered inherent to humans [21]. Due to technological advances and ease of adaptation to existing laparoscopic procedures and techniques, robotics has gained space in medicine, impacting the ethical perception of clinical applications of robot-assisted surgery regarding the responsibilities of professionals during the use of technology in medical procedures [4,5,16]. Objective: To analyze the ethical parameters and principles involved in the authorization and approval of the use of robotics within the health area. Materials and Methods: The research was carried out using the electronic databases of ScieLo, PubMed and the VHL Regional Portal. Articles published between 2014 and 2024 were selected, in Portuguese and English, using the keywords “robotic”, “healthcare”, “ethic” and “technology”, using the Boolean operator “and”. Systematic reviews of Qualis journals (A1, A2, A3, A4, B1, B2 and B3) were selected and unrelated articles were excluded. A total of 218 articles were registered, of which only 21 met the inclusion criteria. Results: Responsibility is still inherent to the professional, regardless of the use of robots, which can be defended using different contemporary bioethical currents, including the principles of non-maleficence, beneficence, respect for autonomy, consequentialism and ethics of care [6,18,21]. The implementation of robots has proven to be beneficial, offering less pain, smaller scars and better aesthetic results, contributing to the faster physical and emotional recovery of patients, in addition to improving their self-esteem and general well-being [2,21]. With the increasing complexity of operations and the difficulties in training some techniques, simulators that create virtual reality environments have emerged. This has led to debates on ethical issues related to the use of robotic surgical procedures, their risks and benefits, and the responsibilities of physicians when using the technology [9,21]. Conclusion: Given the above, it is clear that improving patients' quality of life is an important aspect, but it is worth highlighting the need for investment in training, research, and development of accessible technology, and that updating appropriate regulations and ethical guidelines is also essential to ensure the safety and quality of robotic surgical procedures guided by fundamental bioethical principles [18]. Although it presents challenges, the substantial benefits it offers to patients and healthcare professionals justify the continued pursuit of its adoption and improvement [9].