Recent improvements in artificial limbs, like touch feedback, powered movement, and smart controls, have greatly helped prosthesis users by enhancing functionality, satisfaction, and quality of life. Yet, the ethical side of creating and using these high-tech limbs hasn't been thoroughly discussed. Cody McDonald, PhD, MPH, L/CPO, Assistant Professor, and colleagues from Baylor University have written a new paper that reflects on the various ethical issues that arise with these new devices.
This article draws on the expertise of the authors, who have a variety of experience and expertise within the field of prosthetics. The group includes prosthetists, researchers who work with prosthesis users, and experts in wearable rehabilitation technologies, machine learning and artificial intelligence, as well as the ethics of advanced technologies. The paper aims to spark a conversation among those who make, study, and improve these devices about the moral aspects of prosthetic innovation and suggests areas for further investigation. This discussion could help shape better products and policies, ultimately benefiting people who use these advanced prosthetic devices.
The article is online now in Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences.