Can a Robot Provide the Answer? Ethical Considerations in Using Social Robots for Assessment and Monitoring in Healthcare
This academic book chapter examines the ethical considerations of using social robots for healthcare assessment and monitoring. It proposes a typology of social robots including telepresence, testing, and surveillance robots, and categorizes relevant ethical values into assessment quality and privacy, acceptability and transparency, and the ethic of caring. The chapter discusses three prototypical uses: remote diagnosis in hospitals, autism interventions for children, and domestic monitoring for dementia patients. Finally, it argues that value-sensitive design, deployment planning, and tailored professional training are essential to address these ethical challenges effectively.
Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.
Who issued it
Who it governs
Researchers, healthcare professionals, and AI developers should read this to understand the ethical dimensions of deploying social robots in healthcare settings.
What the document contains
The text addresses ethical challenges, typologies, and specific use cases of social robots in healthcare assessment and monitoring, while proposing value-sensitive design and professional training solutions.
Specific regulatory enforcement mechanisms, statutory definitions, and legally binding obligations are not provided.
- Social robots used for healthcare assessment and monitoring introduce substantial ethical challenges.
- Ethical considerations are grouped around assessment quality and privacy, social aspects like acceptability and transparency, and the ethic of caring.
- Prototypical use cases include telepresence-facilitated remote diagnosis, autism testing and interventions, and domestic monitoring for persons with dementia.
- Value-sensitive design and deployment planning are essential to address ethical concerns.
- Tailored professional training is required for effective and ethical robot deployment in healthcare settings.
· Abstract · Typology of Social Robots for Assessment and Monitoring · Ethical Values: Assessment Quality, Privacy, Acceptability, Transparency, and Caring · Prototypical Uses: Telepresence Diagnosis, Autism Interventions, Dementia Monitoring · Conclusion: Value-Sensitive Design and Professional Training
How it scores
Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.
Accountability
0/5Clear responsibility for AI outcomes
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-24
Fairness
0/5Non-discrimination and equitable treatment
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-24
Human Dignity
3/5Respect for the inherent worth of persons
Finally (3) the value of caring.
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-24
Human Oversight
0/5Humans remain in control of consequential decisions
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-24
Privacy
3/5Protection of personal data and private life
specifically assessment quality and privacy
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-24
Transparency
3/5Openness about how AI systems work and are used
specifically acceptability and transparency
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-24
Enforcement
0/5Consequences and compliance mechanisms with real force
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-24
Impact Assessment
3/5Required assessment of an AI system's risks/impacts before or during use
It will be argued that in order to address the ethical concerns effectively, value-sensitive design and deployment planning as well as tailored training of professionals to use those robots are essential requirements.
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-24