[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":2179},["ShallowReactive",2],{"category-bioethics":3},{"category":4,"posts":42,"featured":2177,"ebooks":2178},{"id":5,"count":6,"description":7,"link":8,"name":9,"slug":10,"taxonomy":11,"parent":12,"meta":13,"acf":14,"z_taxonomy_image_url":17,"yoast_meta":18,"taxonomy_image":17,"_links":21},511,48,"If left unchecked, disruptive medical technologies like human augmentation, cyborgization, cryonics or organ regeneration may transform humanity, turning financial differences into biological ones. To make sure this doesn’t happen, serious ethical questions have to be handled on every level of society.","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fcategory\u002Fbioethics\u002F","Bioethics","bioethics","category",0,[],{"listing_order":15,"child_category_ids":16},"3",false,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FGenes-and-crimes-scaled.jpg",{"yoast_wpseo_title":19,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":20},"Bioethics - The Medical Futurist","Find the latest bioethics articles from The Medical Futurist!",{"self":22,"collection":28,"about":31,"wp:post_type":34,"curies":37},[23],{"href":24,"targetHints":25},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories\u002F511",{"allow":26},[27],"GET",[29],{"href":30},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories",[32],{"href":33},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftaxonomies\u002Fcategory",[35],{"href":36},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts?categories=511",[38],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},"wp","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.w.org\u002F{rel}",true,[43,255,425,581,717,869,1005,1115,1246,1383,1529,1640,1739,1829,1938,2050],{"id":44,"date":45,"date_gmt":46,"guid":47,"modified":49,"modified_gmt":50,"slug":51,"status":52,"type":53,"link":54,"title":55,"content":57,"excerpt":59,"author":61,"featured_media":62,"comment_status":63,"ping_status":63,"sticky":41,"template":64,"format":65,"meta":66,"categories":67,"tags":71,"project_category":88,"contact_email_category":93,"yst_prominent_words":94,"class_list":107,"better_featured_image":138,"acf":189,"yoast_meta":203,"_links":206},24423,"2026-07-02T06:55:12","2026-07-02T04:55:12",{"rendered":48},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_id=24423&_wpnonce=e91e46a1c5&status=auto-draft&type=post","2026-07-02T06:55:13","2026-07-02T04:55:13","what-happens-to-your-medical-data-after-you-die","publish","post","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fwhat-happens-to-your-medical-data-after-you-die",{"rendered":56},"What Happens To Your Medical Data After You Die?",{"rendered":58,"protected":16},"\n\u003Cp>“Almost no one has thought about what is going to happen to all of the medical records that sit around after people die,” \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2019\u002F5\u002F28\u002F18642621\u002Fmedical-records-donate-science-digital-data-health-body-death\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said Jon Cornwall\u003C\u002Fa>, senior lecturer in the Centre for Early Learning in Medicine at the University of Otago in New Zealand. Indeed, even if death is one of the most certain things in life, we have little control or knowledge about what happens to our collected health data after that point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>To see for yourself, you could try answering those following questions. How familiar are you with your digital health data footprint? Do you even know about the kind of health data generated about you and where it ends up? And what happens with this ever-growing pile of information after you die? Who owns this data and who can get access to it? Why could this even be interesting and for whom? \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>With the advent of digital health technologies such as \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-big-symptom-checker-review\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">chatbots\u003C\u002Fa>, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ftop-health-wearables\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">fitness trackers\u003C\u002Fa> and \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fmydna-review\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">direct-to-consumer genetic tests\u003C\u002Fa>, that amount of health data soars to new heights with more individual and precise data piling up day by day. It would thus make sense to be able to donate such data; in similar ways we can donate our bodies for science. But it’s not as straightforward as it sounds, and such valuable individualised data are preyed upon by companies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>We dived into the mainly overlooked area of posthumous medical data and almost got lost. Here are our findings; but just a heads up: it’s messy and complicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Little digital breadcrumbs everywhere\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Just as Hansel and Gretel dropped little breadcrumbs along the path in the forest to find their way back home, we leave tons of tiny digital breadcrumbs about ourselves in the digital universe. Facebook posts, e-mails, signing up to newsletters, cookies following our search history, interests, and preferences. The data piles up to form a unique digital identity. In a few decades, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.reuters.com\u002Farticle\u002Fus-global-tech-privacy-trfn\u002Fdata-of-the-dead-virtual-immortality-exposes-holes-in-privacy-laws-idUSKBN21Z0NF?edition-redirect=in\" target=\"_blank\">it is even expected\u003C\u002Fa> that the number of Facebook profiles belonging to dead people will outnumber those of living users. The online space stores everything and never forgets.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>And what happens with the digital identity after someone’s death? As it certainly creates awkward moments when Facebook signals the birthday of a deceased friend, for example, more and more people realise that the digital era has reached a point where we also have to deal with the digital afterlife. However, so far, it has only created weirdness and confusion. You have online memorial services; \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.thedigitalbeyond.com\u002Fonline-services-list\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">companies who help you plan your digital death\u003C\u002Fa> and afterlife; or even \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lifenaut.com\u002Flearn-more\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">re-create algorithms\u003C\u002Fa> to make a “digital back-up of their mind”.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Such endeavours bring us closer to a reality akin to the “Be Right Back” \u003Cem>Black Mirror \u003C\u002Fem>episode where the protagonist “resurrects” her deceased lover in virtual form based on his online communications and profile. Already, social network \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.eter9.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">ETER9\u003C\u002Fa> promises to give users “cyber eternity” by pairing them with their A. I. counterparts, which learn their online behaviours and interact on their behalf, even after their demise. It’s still in Beta mode with over 100 000 registered users. The \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftwitter.com\u002Feternime_?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">Eternime project\u003C\u002Fa> also offers something similar with nearly 47,000 subscribers, but \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.reuters.com\u002Farticle\u002Fus-global-tech-privacy-trfn\u002Fdata-of-the-dead-virtual-immortality-exposes-holes-in-privacy-laws-idUSKBN21Z0NF?edition-redirect=in\" target=\"_blank\">a lack of funding\u003C\u002Fa> put it on hold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Who might not be short on funds is a Big Tech company like Microsoft. The latter was \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.popularmechanics.com\u002Ftechnology\u002Frobots\u002Fa35165370\u002Fmicrosoft-resurrects-the-dead-chatbots\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">recently granted a patent\u003C\u002Fa> to develop a chat bot that converses “in the personality of a specific person” based on social data. The company \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpdfpiw.uspto.gov\u002F.piw?PageNum=0&docid=10853717&IDKey=6E72242A6301&HomeUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser%3FSect1%3DPTO2%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526p%3D1%2526u%3D%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsearch-bool.html%2526r%3D31%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526co1%3DAND%2526d%3DPTXT%2526s1%3Dmicrosoft.ASNM.%2526OS%3DAN%2Fmicrosoft%2526RS%3DAN%2Fmicrosoft\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">further contemplates\u003C\u002Fa> pairing the technology with a 2D or 3D model of that person. But it’s still “only” a patent, with practical applications, if ever, remaining to be seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Nevertheless, the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-future-of-our-brains-health-in-black-mirror\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cem>Black Mirror \u003C\u002Fem>vibe\u003C\u002Fa> is here and gives us much to contemplate about. Think about it: your grandchildren could converse with the online version of you 40 years from now. And it also raises a host of \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fyour-privacy-in-the-digital-health-era-the-medical-futurists-guide\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">privacy concerns\u003C\u002Fa>, now that data is the new oil. Moreover, the digital breadcrumb trail further extends beyond the social media space and into the healthcare space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>\u003Cstrong>Dr. Frankenstein stitching your medical data\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Similarly to the digital identity feeding off the breadcrumbs you drop off every time you use the Internet, an ever-growing Frankenstein’s monster evolves out of your medical data. Such data are collected from your birth; but in most cases – and surprisingly enough – this pile of information doesn’t belong to you. Moreover, you don’t have the chance to control it. If you look at the amount of data in question, you will realise the vanity of such an enterprise; and that this is not a far-fetched claim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1630\" height=\"795\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F07\u002FMedical-Records-Archive.jpg\" alt=\"medical data\" class=\"wp-image-24425\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F07\u002FMedical-Records-Archive.jpg 1630w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F07\u002FMedical-Records-Archive-768x375.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F07\u002FMedical-Records-Archive-1536x749.jpg 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F07\u002FMedical-Records-Archive-512x250.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1630px) 100vw, 1630px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.gsb.stanford.edu\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>You get into the universe of medical administration the moment you are born. When you end up in a hospital, medical professionals use charts containing notes and information for diagnosis and treatment. These get into \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.rasmussen.edu\u002Fdegrees\u002Fhealth-sciences\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-long-are-medical-records-kept\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">your (electronic) medical records\u003C\u002Fa>; and every private or public hospital or medical facility where you receive treatment will preserve some medical records of you. These generate \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.rasmussen.edu\u002Fdegrees\u002Fhealth-sciences\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-long-are-medical-records-kept\u002F\">general hea\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.rasmussen.edu\u002Fdegrees\u002Fhealth-sciences\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-long-are-medical-records-kept\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">lth records\u003C\u002Fa> accessible by healthcare professionals; as well as \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.rasmussen.edu\u002Fdegrees\u002Fhealth-sciences\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-long-are-medical-records-kept\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">personal health records\u003C\u002Fa> with details like immunisation history, family medical history and past diagnoses meant for access by patients.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Now add to that the daily data gathered from digital health technologies from your phone to your smartwatch and the amount gets staggeringly huge. For example, the Marshfield Clinic health system in Wisconsin is on track to store more medical records from deceased patients in its data repository than of living patients \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.researchgate.net\u002Fprofile\u002FVojtech_Huser\u002Fpublication\u002F268431422_Evaluating_the_size_of_deceased_patient_EHR_research_data_sets_A_multi-year_trend_analysis\u002Flinks\u002F546b0da00cf20dedafd3ab7c\u002FEvaluating-the-size-of-deceased-patient-EHR-research-data-sets-A-multi-year-trend-analysis.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">by 2056\u003C\u002Fa>.  As a result of this, millions of posthumous medical records are and will keep sitting around in digital and analogue systems; and that already massive volume is only going to grow. So how do countries deal with those data?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>\u003Cstrong>The lifetime of health records\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Looking at this Mount Everest of data and the divergent spaces where it can end up, it seems to be very difficult to take ownership of it – even if you’re alive. The specifics vary from country to country. Moreover, there is \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2019\u002F5\u002F28\u002F18642621\u002Fmedical-records-donate-science-digital-data-health-body-death\" target=\"_blank\">no proper framework\u003C\u002Fa> in place for one to pass their health data the way that they wish it to be. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Currently, record-holders (whether an heir or legal representative) can easily sell such health information to companies interested in mining medical records for their own business interests; they \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.scientificamerican.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-data-brokers-make-money-off-your-medical-records\u002F\">only need to remove certai\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.scientificamerican.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-data-brokers-make-money-off-your-medical-records\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">n\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.scientificamerican.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-data-brokers-make-money-off-your-medical-records\u002F\"> details\u003C\u002Fa> from the records: such as Social Security numbers, names and detailed addresses to protect people’s privacy. Thus, your anonymized medical records can easily end up in a major pharma company’s hands that aims to profit off of real-world evidence for the efficiency of the drugs you happen to use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1340\" height=\"874\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F07\u002FMedical-Records.jpg\" alt=\"medical data\" class=\"wp-image-24426\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F07\u002FMedical-Records.jpg 1340w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F07\u002FMedical-Records-768x501.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F07\u002FMedical-Records-512x334.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1340px) 100vw, 1340px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.thejournal.ie\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>So what could happen when you are already dead? That’s even more complicated and messy – no matter whether you live in Europe, in the U.S. or in India. Let’s see some examples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>1. The U.S.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The situation is the most complicated in the U. S. as there’s no federal law settling even that seemingly simple question: “who owns the patient’s medical records?”. In the States, HIPAA \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hhs.gov\u002Fhipaa\u002Ffor-professionals\u002Fprivacy\u002Fguidance\u002Fhealth-information-of-deceased-individuals\u002Findex.html\" target=\"_blank\">ensures accessibility of health records\u003C\u002Fa> for 50 years after a patient’s death. However, the usual time frame that record-holders keep them for is much shorter and range around \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.rasmussen.edu\u002Fdegrees\u002Fhealth-sciences\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-long-are-medical-records-kept\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">5-10 years after death\u003C\u002Fa>. The law further enables the use of that data, with the access granted by the representatives of the deceased. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>2. The U.K.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In the U.K., after someone dies, their health records \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nhs.uk\u002Fcommon-health-questions\u002Fnhs-services-and-treatments\u002Fcan-i-access-the-medical-records-health-records-of-someone-who-has-died\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">go to the Primary Care Support England\u003C\u002Fa> for storage; generally for 10 years. Up until that point, personal representatives or someone who has a claim resulting from the death can apply to see the medical records of a deceased person. The NHS can further grant researchers access and use of anonymized health records upon request, while also giving patients the option to opt-out. However, it’s not a law but rather an institutional policy, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2019\u002F5\u002F28\u002F18642621\u002Fmedical-records-donate-science-digital-data-health-body-death\" target=\"_blank\">notes Edina Harbinja\u003C\u002Fa>, a senior lecturer in media and privacy law at Aston University in Birmingham, England.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F07\u002FElectronic-health-records.jpg\" alt=\"medical data\" class=\"wp-image-24427\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F07\u002FElectronic-health-records.jpg 1200w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F07\u002FElectronic-health-records-768x448.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F07\u002FElectronic-health-records-512x299.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.techengage.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>3. Hungary\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftasz.hu\u002Fegeszsegugyi-adatok-gyik\" target=\"_blank\">In Hungary\u003C\u002Fa>, medical records have a relatively long lifespan; as long as 30 years. Discharge summaries’ storage goes for even longer, at least for 50 years. Furthermore, their preservation can extend for even longer if it’s justified by scientific research. When a patient dies, their legal representatives, legal heirs, or close relatives have the right to access their medical records – upon written request. This allows them to know the cause of death or the specificities of their treatment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>4. India\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nhp.gov.in\u002Fdata-ownership-of-ehr_mtl\" target=\"_blank\">if you look at India\u003C\u002Fa>, upon the demise of the patient, inactivation of records usually happens after three years and archived permanently. They also note that with the rapid decline in costs of data archiving coupled with the ability to store increasing amounts of data that may be readily accessible, continued maintenance of such data in archives does not lead to any difficulties or disturbances – thus records may be kept indefinitely. That might be a direction that other countries and electronic health records storing systems also take up in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>What\nabout tracker data or information from genetic tests?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While now you can \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftime.com\u002F3706807\u002Ffacebook-death-legacy\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">designate a legacy contact on Facebook\u003C\u002Fa>, you don’t necessarily have that option when it comes to your genetic data. One of the most direct-to-consumer services, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.23andme.com\u002F?myg01=true\" target=\"_blank\">23andMe\u003C\u002Fa>, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsplinternews.com\u002Fwhat-happens-to-your-genetic-data-when-you-die-1793845957\" target=\"_blank\">previously said that\u003C\u002Fa> they can provide genetic data about a deceased person only to an Executor, Personal Representative or Beneficiary of the deceased’s estate. They also highlighted that those requesting such information must\u003Cem> \u003C\u002Fem>provide evidence and legal documentation indicating they are authorised to act on behalf of the deceased individual. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>But 23andMe also \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gsk.com\u002Fen-gb\u002Fmedia\u002Fpress-releases\u002Fgsk-and-23andme-sign-agreement-to-leverage-genetic-insights-for-the-development-of-novel-medicines\u002F\">signed a\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gsk.com\u002Fen-gb\u002Fmedia\u002Fpress-releases\u002Fgsk-and-23andme-sign-agreement-to-leverage-genetic-insights-for-the-development-of-novel-medicines\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"> \u003C\u002Fa>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gsk.com\u002Fen-gb\u002Fmedia\u002Fpress-releases\u002Fgsk-and-23andme-sign-agreement-to-leverage-genetic-insights-for-the-development-of-novel-medicines\u002F\">$300 million deal\u003C\u002Fa> with pharma giant GSK for drug development. This deal leverages 23andMe’s substantial genetic resources made possible through its customers, who were oblivious that such a deal was in the pipeline. Whether or not such partnerships use the data of deceased customers is unknown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F07\u002FGenetic-Data-512x341.jpg\" alt=\"medical data\" class=\"wp-image-24428\"\u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.livingdna.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Beyond the difficulties of obtaining a deceased person’s genetic data, there are also still many questions about its ownership. Is it shared property as we have a lot in common with our parents or grandparents? Is it legal to take genetic information to the grave if we consider the impact it might have on the life of our descendants? Lawyers and researchers have to figure out many issues around genetic data as it becomes more and more widespread to have a genetic test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Regarding fitness trackers, health sensors, or wearables, the issues are very similar. Usually, the user has the option to share their data with one or more persons whom they designate while alive. But usually, they don’t have an option to name a legacy contact. Fitbit’s \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fitbit.com\u002Fglobal\u002Fus\u002Flegal\u002Fprivacy-policy\" target=\"_blank\">privacy policy says nothing\u003C\u002Fa> about what happens upon death; only that you can delete your data. However, it may take up to 90 days to remove all your information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Can\nyou donate your health data?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Unlike organ donation, ownership of medical data rests in the hands of healthcare providers; without any way of knowing where that ends up. With the detailed, individualised data made available through digital health technologies, there’s scientific value to be had in it. It could help better assess public health issues that require health data over a long timescale. For example, the effect of certain working conditions on the ageing process; or the effects of long term exposure to pollutants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“We didn’t find any systems where you could actively give your data,” \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2019\u002F5\u002F28\u002F18642621\u002Fmedical-records-donate-science-digital-data-health-body-death\" target=\"_blank\">said Jen Krutzinna\u003C\u002Fa>, a bioethicist and a member of the Digital Ethics Lab at the Oxford Internet Institute. “There’s no way to pass it on in a proper way.” Krutzinna is part of a team at the Oxford Internet Institute working on a proposed “\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Flink.springer.com\u002Fchapter\u002F10.1007\u002F978-3-030-04363-6_12\" target=\"_blank\">Ethical Code for Posthumous Medical Data Donation\u003C\u002Fa>”. The framework emphasises that, similar to organ donation, posthumous health data should not be commercially exploited; but rather employed for the common good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"1050\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F07\u002FDonate-Health-Data.gif\" alt=\"medical data\" class=\"wp-image-24429\"\u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.quartz.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The Oxford team’s proposed ethical code aims at setting the pace for a process that has yet to materialise. However, it is one that would allow researchers to take advantage of the health data that people leave behind, says Krutzinna. In fact, in \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.slideshare.net\u002Fpetrieflom\u002Fjon-cornwall-what-should-happen-to-our-medical-records-when-we-die-140061837\" target=\"_blank\">focus groups conducted by Jon Cornwall\u003C\u002Fa>, participants would agree to have their posthumous medical records handled by the government (rather than private companies); didn’t want the data to be sold; and were also concerned about hacking. “They want anonymity and privacy but want their descendants to have benefits as well,” \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2019\u002F5\u002F28\u002F18642621\u002Fmedical-records-donate-science-digital-data-health-body-death\" target=\"_blank\">Cornwall said\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In a similar way, as it gets hard to track where our health information ends up during our lifetime, the issue persists even after our demise. With our increasing digital health data footprint, clear regulations must be set up so that individuals are aware of the options. This also enables them to make informed decisions regarding their medical data after their death. As \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2019\u002F5\u002F28\u002F18642621\u002Fmedical-records-donate-science-digital-data-health-body-death\" target=\"_blank\">Edina Harbinja puts it\u003C\u002Fa>: “We should be able to choose how we dispose of our digital self.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":60,"protected":16},"\u003Cp>How familiar are you with your digital health data footprint? Do you even know what kind of health data is generated about you and where it is stored? And what happens with this ever-growing pile of information after you die? Who owns this data and who can get access to it? Why could this even be interesting and for whom? We have dived into the mainly overlooked area of posthumous medical data and almost got lost. Here are our findings but just a heads up: it’s messy and complicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",6,24430,"closed","","standard",{"_acf_changed":16,"footnotes":64},[68,5,69,70],504,521,799,[72,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87],1222,686,1286,687,1433,688,1434,196,1435,227,1436,246,275,425,1153,1221,[89,90,91,92],947,951,952,953,[],[95,96,97,98,99,100,101,102,103,104,105,106],1723,1795,1975,2919,2923,2933,3825,1571,3829,1617,1681,1693,[108,53,109,110,111,112,113,114,115,116,117,118,119,120,121,122,123,124,125,126,127,128,129,130,131,132,133,134,135,136,137],"post-24423","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-artificial-intelligence","category-bioethics","category-future-medicine","category-security-privacy","tag-medical-records","tag-health-data","tag-medical-data","tag-data-privacy","tag-privacy","tag-data-security","tag-health-records","tag-data-2","tag-electronic-medical-records","tag-emr","tag-electronic-health-records","tag-future","tag-healthcare","tag-technology-2","tag-electronic","tag-ehr","project_category-company","project_category-patients","project_category-policy-makers","project_category-researchers",{"id":62,"alt_text":139,"caption":140,"description":141,"media_type":142,"media_details":143,"post":44,"source_url":188},"medical data after death","What happens to your medical data after you die?","Do you know what kind of health data is generated about you and where it is stored? And what happens with this of information after you die?","image",{"width":144,"height":145,"file":146,"sizes":147,"image_meta":185},1920,1080,"2019\u002F07\u002Fhealth_data.png",{"medium":148,"large":154,"thumbnail":159,"medium_large":163,"1536x1536":164,"large_old_512x288":169,"thumbnail_old_150x150":174,"medium_old_370x208":176,"medium_large_old_768x432":179,"large_old_512x288_old_512x288":182},{"file":149,"width":150,"height":151,"mime-type":152,"source_url":153},"health_data-370x208.png",370,208,"image\u002Fpng","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F07\u002Fhealth_data-370x208.png",{"file":155,"width":156,"height":157,"mime-type":152,"source_url":158},"health_data-768x432.png",768,432,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F07\u002Fhealth_data-768x432.png",{"file":160,"width":161,"height":161,"mime-type":152,"source_url":162},"health_data-150x150.png",150,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F07\u002Fhealth_data-150x150.png",{"file":155,"width":156,"height":157,"mime-type":152,"source_url":158},{"file":165,"width":166,"height":167,"mime-type":152,"source_url":168},"health_data-1536x864.png",1536,864,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F07\u002Fhealth_data-1536x864.png",{"file":170,"width":171,"height":172,"mime-type":152,"source_url":173},"health_data-512x288.png",512,288,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F07\u002Fhealth_data-512x288.png",{"file":160,"width":175,"height":175,"mime-type":152,"source_url":162},"150",{"file":149,"width":177,"height":178,"mime-type":152,"source_url":153},"370","208",{"file":155,"width":180,"height":181,"mime-type":152,"source_url":158},"768","432",{"file":170,"width":183,"height":184,"mime-type":152,"source_url":173},"512","288",{"aperture":186,"credit":64,"camera":64,"caption":64,"created_timestamp":186,"copyright":64,"focal_length":186,"iso":186,"shutter_speed":186,"title":64,"orientation":186,"keywords":187},"0",[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F07\u002Fhealth_data.png",{"related_posts":16,"related_posts_footer":190,"cta_type":194,"cta_color":64,"subtitle":64,"related_books":195,"key_takeaways":198},[191,192,193],23938,13003,13229,"subscribe",[196,197],30419,31417,[199,201],{"title":200},"\u003Cp>What happens to our social media channels and data online when we die?\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":202},"\u003Cp>This article analyzes the special case of our health and medical data being stored in hospitals, at home and at the companies we have purchased technologies and services from.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"yoast_wpseo_title":204,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":205,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":54},"What Happens To Your Medical Data After You Die? - The Medical Futurist","The Medical Futurist dived into the area of posthumous medical data. Here are our findings but just a heads up: it’s messy and complicated.",{"self":207,"collection":212,"about":215,"author":218,"replies":221,"version-history":224,"predecessor-version":228,"wp:featuredmedia":232,"wp:attachment":235,"wp:term":238,"curies":253},[208],{"href":209,"targetHints":210},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F24423",{"allow":211},[27],[213],{"href":214},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts",[216],{"href":217},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftypes\u002Fpost",[219],{"embeddable":41,"href":220},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fusers\u002F6",[222],{"embeddable":41,"href":223},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=24423",[225],{"count":226,"href":227},26,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F24423\u002Frevisions",[229],{"id":230,"href":231},60949,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F24423\u002Frevisions\u002F60949",[233],{"embeddable":41,"href":234},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F24430",[236],{"href":237},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=24423",[239,241,244,247,250],{"taxonomy":11,"embeddable":41,"href":240},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=24423",{"taxonomy":242,"embeddable":41,"href":243},"post_tag","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=24423",{"taxonomy":245,"embeddable":41,"href":246},"project_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=24423",{"taxonomy":248,"embeddable":41,"href":249},"contact_email_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=24423",{"taxonomy":251,"embeddable":41,"href":252},"yst_prominent_words","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=24423",[254],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},{"id":256,"date":257,"date_gmt":258,"guid":259,"modified":261,"modified_gmt":262,"slug":263,"status":52,"type":53,"link":264,"title":265,"content":267,"excerpt":269,"author":61,"featured_media":271,"comment_status":63,"ping_status":63,"sticky":41,"template":64,"format":65,"meta":272,"categories":273,"tags":276,"project_category":295,"contact_email_category":296,"yst_prominent_words":297,"class_list":312,"better_featured_image":334,"acf":362,"yoast_meta":380,"_links":383},23437,"2026-05-11T10:36:13","2026-05-11T08:36:13",{"rendered":260},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_id=23437&_wpnonce=5e1f7e7cd0&status=auto-draft&type=post","2026-05-11T10:36:15","2026-05-11T08:36:15","the-most-pressing-issues-in-bioethics","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-most-pressing-issues-in-bioethics",{"rendered":266},"The Most Pressing Issues In Bioethics",{"rendered":268,"protected":16},"\n\u003Cp>Who owns medical and genetic data? How to regulate gene editing? Where is the boundary of enhancing physical or cognitive human capabilities? What to do with biological differences widening the gap of the haves and have-nots? Could we define where the boundary is to augment life? Will we sue robots or algorithms for medical malpractice? With the constant advancement of technology, unprecedented moral, ethical and legal concerns are surfacing. Channeling them into substantial debates will get us closer to their fair solution step by step. Here, we collected the most pressing bioethics issues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Bioethicists\nof the world, unite!\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In 2018, a scientist in China \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nytimes.com\u002F2018\u002F11\u002F26\u002Fhealth\u002Fgene-editing-babies-china.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fscience&action=click&contentCollection=science&region=stream&module=inline&version=latest&contentPlacement=6&pgtype=sectionfront\">claimed to have edited\u003C\u002Fa> a gene in two human embryos and implanted them in their mother’s womb, resulting in the birth of genetically altered twin girls. The case caused international outrage in scientific circles, and a couple of months later, many \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fscience\u002F2019\u002Fmar\u002F13\u002Fscientists-call-for-global-moratorium-on-crispr-gene-editing\">scientists called for a global moratorium on gene-editing embryos\u003C\u002Fa>. However, that’s just one story from the ethically challenging situations on the edges of medical scientific innovation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The billionaires of Silicon Valley, as well as other\nprime examples of the “haves”, are pouring money into research of longevity and\naging, which might result in the even more widening gap between the life\nexpectancies of the affluent and the masses. Dr. David\nHimmelstein, the co-founder of the Physicians for a National Health Program and\na lecturer in medicine at Harvard Medical School, told Healthline that the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.healthline.com\u002Fhealth-news\u002Fcan-money-determine-how-long-you-live#2\">gap between the wealthiest and poorest Americans is already\nabout 10 years for women and 15 for men\u003C\u002Fa> – and we could expect an\nexponential increase there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Besides, we haven’t even touched upon bioethical topics around private and sensitive medical data, not to say genetic data. Who’s the owner, the distributor or the user of that data? What is it worth and who uses it for what purposes? Or what about connected medical devices used for healthy people? Could the use of an exoskeleton be allowed in a warehouse to enhance capabilities? What about brain implants or digital tattoos? Where should or might the augmentation of human bodies or cyborgization stop?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>We’re no longer in the realm of science fiction. These issues are real, well and alive. \u003Cstrong>While The Medical Futurist takes an overall optimistic approach to technology and emphasizes its benefits, we have to deal with the dark side – in order to take steps to counter them as soon as possible. Physicians, patients, regulators, and all other stakeholders must prepare for the coming waves of change. To do that, we need to start talking openly about the dangers we face. To spark discourse and urge bioethicists to speak a lot more and a lot louder about the most pressing \u003Cstrong>bioethics\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fstrong> \u003Cstrong>issues and topics,\u003C\u002Fstrong> here’s the ultimate list of the ones we consider the most relevant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>1) Medical and genetic data privacy\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The most important bioethics issue of our times is how to treat data, more specifically how to treat private and sensitive medical and genetic data. How should we secure, share or trade with sensitive data? Should sensitive fitness and medical data be shared with insurance companies? What if you ate red meat and your insurance company immediately raised your insurance rates because you’re not eating healthy enough?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-genomic-data-challenges-of-the-future\">What to do with genetic and genomic\ndata\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong>? If you already purchased a direct-to-consumer\ngenetic test or any other one, what can companies do with your data? Can\nyou delete it or force the companies to make your genetic information\ndisappear? \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong>Could it be allowed for companies, research\nconglomerates or pharma enterprises to purchase or sell such data, and if anyone\ndoes that, how to set the price for it? What is the price for a single person’s\nsequenced genome? Should there be a price?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>These are not far away and remote concerns. For example, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gsk.com\u002Fen-gb\u002Fmedia\u002Fpress-releases\u002Fgsk-and-23andme-sign-agreement-to-leverage-genetic-insights-for-the-development-of-novel-medicines\u002F\">in July 2018, GlaxoSmithKline decided to invest $300 million in 23andMe\u003C\u002Fa> and forge an exclusive drug development deal with the Silicon Valley consumer genetics company to research and develop innovative new medicines and potential cures, using human genetics as the basis for discovery. Ancestry, which maintains a more than \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ancestry.com\u002Fcorporate\u002Fnewsroom\u002Fpress-releases\u002Fancestry-surpasses-5-million-people-dna-database-giving-customers-even-more\">5-million-person\u003C\u002Fa> consumer database of genetic information, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.businessinsider.com\u002Fgoogle-calico-ancestry-dna-genetics-aging-partnership-ended-2018-7\">once partnered with Google’s stealthy life-extension spinoff\u003C\u002Fa> Calico to study aging. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.reuters.com\u002Farticle\u002Fus-health-dna\u002Fcashing-in-on-dna-race-on-to-unlock-value-in-genetic-data-idUSKBN1KO0XC\">Caitlin Curtis, a research fellow at the University of Queensland, estimates\u003C\u002Fa> 23andMe made around $130 million from selling access to about a million genotypes, before the GSK deal, implying an average price of around $130. That means if you purchased 23andMe’s genetic test for $100-150, your genetic information could have been bought for another $130 on average price. The question is whether we are okay with that…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"256\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FBioethics_Helix-512x256.png\" alt=\"bioethics\" class=\"wp-image-23440\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FBioethics_Helix-512x256.png 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FBioethics_Helix-768x384.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FBioethics_Helix-1536x768.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FBioethics_Helix.png 2040w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: https:\u002F\u002Fblog.helix.com\u002Fbioethics\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>2\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong>)\n\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong>Cyber\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong> \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong>attacks\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong> against \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong>medical\ndevices\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong>\nand systems\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Do you remember \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-nhs-ransomware-attack-data-privacy-in-digital-health-part-one\">the\nWannaCry scandal\u003C\u002Fa>, the global cyber attack\nthat infected 300,000 computers in 150 countries using hacking tools? It also\ncrippled the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom. UK hospitals\nwere shut down and had to turn away non-emergency patients after ransomware\nransacked its networks. That was the complete and utter failure of the health\nIT infrastructure. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Since that attack, not only hospitals doubled down on cybersecurity, but Microsoft also started to take cybersecurity in healthcare as seriously as never before. The ransomware \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.beckershospitalreview.com\u002Fhealthcare-information-technology\u002F6-updates-on-the-worldwide-ransomware-attack.html\">exploited\u003C\u002Fa> a vulnerability that Microsoft had created a patch for two months earlier, but many organizations — including hospitals — had not appropriately updated their systems before the attack. \u003Cstrong>But is okaying the updates enough? And did huge medical facilities or tech companies dealing with vulnerable data even do the homework ever since?\u003C\u002Fstrong> It doesn’t seem so, although they should! Recently, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftechcrunch.com\u002F2019\u002F03\u002F17\u002Fmedical-health-data-leak\u002F\">it turned out that California-based Meditab, a health tech company was leaking thousands of doctor’s notes\u003C\u002Fa>, medical records, and prescriptions daily after a security lapse left a fax server without a password.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The situation is not rosy regarding \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-nhs-ransomware-attack-part-ii\">the security of medical devices\u003C\u002Fa> either. In 2011, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.theregister.co.uk\u002F2011\u002F10\u002F27\u002Ffatal_insulin_pump_attack\u002F\">a researcher from the McAfee tech company demonstrated\u003C\u002Fa> at a conference in Miami how insulin pumps might be hacked to deliver fatal doses to diabetes patients. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftechcrunch.com\u002F2019\u002F03\u002F22\u002Fmedtronic-defibrillators-critical-flaws\u002F?fbclid=IwAR0IH13HUO1BmCTEuTOmzxXXENKZu3RIoyS_xvaSi9qVKNBmYnACFnr5kP4\">According to the latest news\u003C\u002Fa>, Homeland Security has issued a warning for a set of critical-rated vulnerabilities in Medtronic defibrillators that put the devices at risk of manipulation. \u003Cstrong>The question is – what can we do to protect wearable devices that are connected to our physiological system from being hacked and controlled from a distance? Companies developing such technologies should make sure they are safe and users should be as vigilant as possible when using them.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"205\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FCyberattack_Data-breach-512x205.jpg\" alt=\"bioethics\" class=\"wp-image-23442\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FCyberattack_Data-breach-512x205.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FCyberattack_Data-breach-768x307.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FCyberattack_Data-breach-1536x614.jpg 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FCyberattack_Data-breach.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.healthitnews.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>3) What to do\nwith biohackers?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>With the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Frevolution-access-healthcare-diy-labs-makerspaces\">rise of the maker movement\u003C\u002Fa>, the availability of know-how, raw materials, and an active community, the appearance of “garage solutions” in medicine have multiplied. However, they cannot be considered as unambiguously positive or negative\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Some people have been working out long-term solutions for serious medical conditions outside of the traditional „ivory tower of medical knowledge” as they considered regulation to be too slow compared to innovation. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Our favorite example is the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fliving-with-an-artificial-pancreas\u002F\">#wearenotwaiting\nTwitter-movement for patients suffering from diabetes\u003C\u002Fa>. The initiator of the\ncommunity, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fliving-with-an-artificial-pancreas\u002F\">Dana\nLewis\u003C\u002Fa>, and her husband built a so-called artificial pancreas at home and\nstarted to spread the blueprints and know-how on Twitter to other diabetes\npatients – without waiting for the approval of the FDA or any other agency.\nWhy? Because it works and patients needed it. Dana had been using the device\nfor almost two years by the time the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bloomberg.com\u002Fnews\u002Farticles\u002F2016-09-28\u002Fartificial-pancreas-approved-by-fda-is-first-such-device-in-u-s\">US\nFood and Drug Administration finally approved it.\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, \u003Cstrong>experimenting at home with unapproved or not well-tested technologies is dangerous. Does it mean that patients who will be able to scan themselves, 3D print medications at home or even do genetic engineering should also be allowed to do all these? How should we go about biohackers? Where should the line be drawn between supporting innovation and refusing reckless experimentation?\u003C\u002Fstrong> Do you think that it’s just another far-fetched, non-existent gobbledygook? Have you heard about the biohacker who tried to do CRISPR therapy on himself at his own home? Josiah Zayner \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.buzzfeed.com\u002Fstephaniemlee\u002Fthis-biohacker-wants-to-edit-his-own-dna?utm_term=.rsJBR678M#.evELlvD9p\">injected his arm with DNA encoding for CRISPR\u003C\u002Fa> that could theoretically enhance his muscles—in between taking swigs of Scotch at a live-streamed event during an October conference. Now, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theatlantic.com\u002Fscience\u002Farchive\u002F2018\u002F02\u002Fbiohacking-stunts-crispr\u002F553511\u002F\">he believes that wasn’t a good idea\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"256\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FDigital-Tattoos-Look-Like-Biohacking-512x256.jpg\" alt=\"bioethics\" class=\"wp-image-23443\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FDigital-Tattoos-Look-Like-Biohacking-512x256.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FDigital-Tattoos-Look-Like-Biohacking-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FDigital-Tattoos-Look-Like-Biohacking-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FDigital-Tattoos-Look-Like-Biohacking.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.dailydot.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>4) What if\nhealthy people turn\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong>ed\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong> to technology?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As technological innovations in\nthe field of medicine and healthcare multiply day by day, it will be \u003Cstrong>more and more usual to augment our bodies\nwith the help of machines. It makes us faster, stronger or more sensitive to\nthe environment. This means that the boundaries of “human-ness” are stretched.\nHow far can we and should we go?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>At first, we might \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fieet.org\u002Findex.php\u002FIEET2\u002Fmore\u002Fbjmurphy20160228\">experiment with exoskeletons\u003C\u002Fa> that let warehouse workers lift\nheavy boxes or allow doctors to stand through operations for more than 10\nhours. Those are easily removable mechanic extensions, but what about digital\ntattoos or other implants? What if someone wants to have a brain implant which\nlets him experience sensations better? We surely know that could go wrong –\njust think of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.imdb.com\u002Ftitle\u002Ftt5058700\u002F?ref_=ttep_ep_cur\">the horrible episode of Black Mirror, Black\nMuseum\u003C\u002Fa>. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, digital tattoos could also be removed upon request, we assume, but what if people go one step even further in \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-worlds-most-famous-real-life-cyborgs\">cyborgization\u003C\u002Fa> and request irreversible changes in their bodies? What if people start asking their doctors to replace their healthy limbs for robotic ones because it would let them run faster? What if they start asking for indelible brain chips to get smarter? Currently, you can get a new nose or larger breasts, what would prevent you from getting new muscles or brain implants?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"292\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FCyborg-Brain-512x292.jpg\" alt=\"bioethics\" class=\"wp-image-23444\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FCyborg-Brain-512x292.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FCyborg-Brain-768x438.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FCyborg-Brain.jpg 1226w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.transpolitica.org\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>5) Biological differences based on inequalities in wealth\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Both staying healthy and healing\nfrom a condition cost enormous sums of money (well, for the average person, not\nthe Bugatti-buying upper 0.1 percent). Americans are even worse off than other\ndeveloped nations as the US spent 17.8 percent of its GDP on health care in\n2016. Meanwhile, the average spending of 11 high-income countries assessed in a\nreport published in the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjamanetwork.com\u002Fjournals\u002Fjama\u002Ffullarticle\u002F2674671\">Journal of the\nAmerican Medical Association\u003C\u002Fa> – Canada, Germany, Australia, the U.K, Japan,\nSweden, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, and the U.S. – was only\n11.5 percent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fis-crowdfunding-the-grim-future-of-health-insurance\">average\ncost of hospital stays for cancer patients in 2015 was $31,390\u003C\u002Fa>, according\nto U.S. government figures — about half that year’s median household income. In\naddition, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002Fpmc\u002Farticles\u002FPMC3273528\u002F\">medical\nexpenses are the leading cause of bankruptcy in the U.S, according to a study\nthat\u003C\u002Fa> indicated about 62 percent of personal bankruptcies in 2007 were\nreportedly due to medical bills, even though most of those people had insurance\n— up from about 46 percent in 2001.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It is even widely \u003Cstrong>reported that the differences in the financial background of people cause visible biological differences. As mentioned above, the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.healthline.com\u002Fhealth-news\u002Fcan-money-determine-how-long-you-live#2\">gap between the wealthiest and poorest Americans is about 10 years for women and 15 for men\u003C\u002Fa>, so there is a big spread with more affluent people living much longer than the poorer masses. And some are even expecting the widening of the chasm.\u003C\u002Fstrong> With the appearance of direct-to-consumer genetics, (for some) affordable whole-genome sequencing, and later on technologies which can truly augment human capabilities – exoskeletons, implants, digital tattoos, artificial limbs and so on – people with the appropriate means will \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fcan-money-buy-you-longevity-and-health\">live longer and healthier lives\u003C\u002Fa>. \u003Cstrong>How can we mitigate the differences? How can we make innovations more accessible to all kinds of communities? At the same time, how do we prepare society for a time when financial differences lead to biological ones?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"498\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FPeople-walking-on-the-street-512x498.jpg\" alt=\"bioethics\" class=\"wp-image-23445\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FPeople-walking-on-the-street-512x498.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FPeople-walking-on-the-street-768x746.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FPeople-walking-on-the-street.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.nytimes.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>6) \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fwhat-if-we-all-lived-beyond-130-years\">What if we live beyond 130 years\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong>?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theatlantic.com\u002Fmagazine\u002Farchive\u002F2014\u002F10\u002Fwhat-happens-when-we-all-live-to-100\u002F379338\u002F\">Since 1840, life expectancy at birth has\nrisen about three months per year\u003C\u002Fa>. Thus, every year a newborn lives three months longer than those born\nthe previous year. Sweden, which keeps excellent demographic records,\ndocuments female life expectancy at 45 years of age in 1840 and 83 today. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.telegraph.co.uk\u002Fnews\u002Fscience\u002Fscience-news\u002F11562492\u002FMeet-the-doctor-who-is-convinced-he-will-live-to-150.html\">Experts\neven believe that\u003C\u002Fa> with recent breakthroughs in science and medicine coupled\nwith lifestyle changes, this number could reach far beyond 100 years. Tons of\nethical and philosophical questions appear with that possibility. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>What would longevity bring for the individual and for society? Does a longer life also go hand in hand with a physically and cognitively stable older age? Do we even want to live longer if we cannot keep our bodies fit for the task? And what about our societies? How would governments, institutions, communities and even our ideas about life itself cope with the changes? \u003C\u002Fstrong>How could we extend our lifespan beyond 100 years of age if the effects of an aging population already strain our societies? If younger generations cannot sustain the social system to provide care for their elders as they are growing older and older, significant structural changes will be necessary. Are we ready for those?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"257\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F07\u002Faging-man-512x257.png\" alt=\"augment life\" class=\"wp-image-21309\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F07\u002Faging-man-512x257.png 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F07\u002Faging-man-768x385.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F07\u002Faging-man.png 870w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.longevitynetwork.org\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>7) The horrors of\n\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fdisruptive-technologies-bioterrorism\">bioterrorism\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>The sensitivity of medical and genetic data is mostly due to fears that\nthey could end up in the wrong hands – and for the time being, nothing can be\ndone to counter a potential attack\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Although wrongdoers have to possess\nvery sophisticated skills, so the risks are very low, but there are \u003Cstrong>some experts who worry that precision\nbioterrorism could appear alongside precision medicine and targeted treatments.\nThat would mean that according to genetic markers or any other biological\nmarkers, attackers could choose a target\npopulation and tailor their biological attack according to their genetic\nmake-up or medical data. As you cannot change your genome as you do with your passwords or credit cards,\nanyone can be completely defenseless against such an attack\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Some \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fleapsmag.com\u002Fbad-actors-getting-your-health-data-is-the-fbis-latest-worry\u002F\">FBI\nagents reported\u003C\u002Fa> they worry about healthcare data generated for precision\nmedicine leaving the US vulnerable to such scenarios.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Alongside with that, hacking of medical devices, complete infrastructures, and systems, manipulation of implants, digital tattoos or robots might leave us utterly assailable. As in the far future, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fwhy-people-should-not-fear-digital-health\u002F\">robots on the nanoscale could live in our bloodstream\u003C\u002Fa> or on our eyeballs, some people are also afraid that by using such tiny devices, total surveillance would become feasible – since nothing can remain hidden when there is a robot swimming through your bodily fluids. Let’s do everything in our power to counter these risks and come up with defensive measures as soon as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F05\u002Fclose-up-of-male-scientist-hand-inoculating-an-agar-plates-with-bacteria-in-microbiology-lab-512x384.jpg\" alt=\"microbiome testing\" class=\"wp-image-17777\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F05\u002Fclose-up-of-male-scientist-hand-inoculating-an-agar-plates-with-bacteria-in-microbiology-lab-512x384.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F05\u002Fclose-up-of-male-scientist-hand-inoculating-an-agar-plates-with-bacteria-in-microbiology-lab-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F05\u002Fclose-up-of-male-scientist-hand-inoculating-an-agar-plates-with-bacteria-in-microbiology-lab-334x250.jpg 334w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F05\u002Fclose-up-of-male-scientist-hand-inoculating-an-agar-plates-with-bacteria-in-microbiology-lab.jpg 870w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.genomemag.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>8) \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-future-of-sex-and-sexuality\">Sexuality becoming technological\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cstrong>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Long-distance kisses, hugs, and\ncaresses. Virtual reality porn stars. Sex robots threatening the world’s oldest\nprofession. Technosexuals living with life-sized dolls. At the dawn of a new\nsexual revolution, it’s time to face where technology may take the most intimate\narea of our lives, where will that take humanity, where are our boundaries and\nwhether we want any of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>According to the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffutureofsex.net\u002FFuture_of_Sex_Report.pdf\">Future of Sex report\nwritten by Jenna Owsianik and Ross Dawson\u003C\u002Fa>, haptic body suits or social\nnetworking sites enhanced with sensual touch interfaces might soon enable fully\nphysical long-distance sex between lovers or hook-up partners thousands of\nkilometers away. Not to mention the possibility of intimate video chats combining\nremote sex devices and holographic partners. \u003Cstrong>The authors even estimate that by 2028, that means in ten years (!),\nover a quarter of young people will have had a long-distance sexual experience.\nBy 2025, 3D-printed body parts could add more realism to the over-the-line sex\ngame. \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The other line of innovation includes robots resembling human sex partners. \u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fgraphics.bondara.com\u002FFuture_sex_report.pdf\">Some futurists even speculated\u003C\u002Fa> that by 2050, human-robot sex will be more common than human-human sex. But can you imagine having sex with a remote program or a robot? And what if something goes wrong? Do you see such, right now seemingly impossible future news headlines as “Woman Sues Robotics Company for Breaking Her Leg During Sex With Robot”?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"288\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F03\u002Fsex-robot-512x288.jpg\" alt=\"Future of Sex\" class=\"wp-image-17357\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F03\u002Fsex-robot-512x288.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F03\u002Fsex-robot-370x208.jpg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F03\u002Fsex-robot-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F03\u002Fsex-robot-445x250.jpg 445w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F03\u002Fsex-robot.jpg 770w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.zdnet.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Takeaways on Bioethics Issues\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>These questions and bioethics issues cannot be answered by 90-minute-long keynotes and a Q&A session afterward. All kinds of stakeholders need to be brought together by bioethicists to see a vivid palette of opinions, after which, the potential ethical, moral or even legal rules can be set up concerning each of the issues in bioethics. That doesn’t mean only formal discussions – let’s discuss these bioethical topics at home, at the workplace, and on public forums. This way, we can prepare to exploit the advantages technology offers, while keeping the potential dangers at bay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>And we shall never forget: “Primum non nocere”!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFIbMejImnxs\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":270,"protected":16},"\u003Cp>Who owns medical and genetic data? How to regulate gene editing? Where is the boundary of enhancing physical or cognitive human capabilities? What to do with biological differences widening the gap of the haves and have-nots? Could we define where is the boundary to augment life? Will we sue robots or algorithms for medical malpractice? With the constant advancement of technology, unprecedented moral, ethical and legal issues are surfacing. Channeling them into substantial debates will get us closer to their fair solution step by step. Here, we collected the 10 most pressing issues in bioethics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",23447,{"_acf_changed":16,"footnotes":64},[5,274,275],506,488,[277,278,85,279,280,281,282,283,79,284,285,286,287,74,83,288,289,290,291,292,293,294],304,996,997,1101,1104,194,1284,830,1285,212,831,833,260,904,262,924,289,959,[],[],[298,299,300,301,302,97,303,100,304,305,306,307,308,309,310,106,311,95],4507,1883,4511,1969,4513,4515,4489,4497,4499,1583,4501,1631,4503,4505,[313,53,109,110,111,112,113,115,314,315,316,317,131,318,319,320,321,322,125,323,324,325,326,120,129,327,328,329,330,331,332,333],"post-23437","category-cyborgization","category-genomics","tag-medical","tag-bioethics","tag-bioethical","tag-genomic","tag-genetic","tag-cyborg","tag-moral","tag-sex","tag-debate","tag-dna","tag-sexuality","tag-cyborgization","tag-genetics","tag-gene-editing","tag-genomics","tag-longevity","tag-innovation","tag-legal",{"id":271,"alt_text":10,"caption":335,"description":64,"media_type":142,"media_details":336,"post":256,"source_url":361},"Source: www.youtube.com",{"width":337,"height":338,"file":339,"sizes":340,"image_meta":359},1280,720,"2019\u002F03\u002FFuture-Of-Humanity.jpg",{"medium":341,"large":345,"thumbnail":348,"medium_large":351,"large_old_512x288":352,"thumbnail_old_150x150":355,"medium_old_370x208":356,"medium_large_old_768x432":357,"large_old_512x288_old_512x288":358},{"file":342,"width":150,"height":151,"mime-type":343,"source_url":344},"Future-Of-Humanity-370x208.jpg","image\u002Fjpeg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FFuture-Of-Humanity-370x208.jpg",{"file":346,"width":156,"height":157,"mime-type":343,"source_url":347},"Future-Of-Humanity-768x432.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FFuture-Of-Humanity-768x432.jpg",{"file":349,"width":161,"height":161,"mime-type":343,"source_url":350},"Future-Of-Humanity-150x150.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FFuture-Of-Humanity-150x150.jpg",{"file":346,"width":156,"height":157,"mime-type":343,"source_url":347},{"file":353,"width":171,"height":172,"mime-type":343,"source_url":354},"Future-Of-Humanity-512x288.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FFuture-Of-Humanity-512x288.jpg",{"file":349,"width":175,"height":175,"mime-type":343,"source_url":350},{"file":342,"width":177,"height":178,"mime-type":343,"source_url":344},{"file":346,"width":180,"height":181,"mime-type":343,"source_url":347},{"file":353,"width":183,"height":184,"mime-type":343,"source_url":354},{"aperture":186,"credit":64,"camera":64,"caption":64,"created_timestamp":186,"copyright":64,"focal_length":186,"iso":186,"shutter_speed":186,"title":64,"orientation":186,"keywords":360},[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FFuture-Of-Humanity.jpg",{"related_posts":363,"related_posts_footer":367,"cta_type":64,"cta_color":64,"subtitle":64,"related_books":16,"key_takeaways":371},[364,365,366],13373,13990,21303,[368,369,370],22549,20686,17353,[372,374,376,378],{"title":373},"\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Bioethics examines the ethical, social, and legal dilemmas\u003C\u002Fstrong> that emerge in the fields of biomedicine and biomedical research.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":375},"\u003Cp>Key bioethical issues include genetic engineering, particularly CRISPR, raising concerns about designer babies and genetic inequality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":377},"\u003Cp>Data privacy and security are critical as health data becomes increasingly digitized, posing risks to patient confidentiality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":379},"\u003Cp>AI in healthcare presents ethical dilemmas regarding decision-making, bias, and the potential dehumanization of patient care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"yoast_wpseo_title":381,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":382,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":264},"Top 8 Issues in Bioethics in 2024 - The Medical Futurist","Top Issues & Topics in Bioethics 1) The most important bioethical topic is medical data privacy 2) Bioethical issues of increasing life expectancy 3)",{"self":384,"collection":389,"about":391,"author":393,"replies":395,"version-history":398,"predecessor-version":402,"wp:featuredmedia":406,"wp:attachment":409,"wp:term":412,"curies":423},[385],{"href":386,"targetHints":387},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F23437",{"allow":388},[27],[390],{"href":214},[392],{"href":217},[394],{"embeddable":41,"href":220},[396],{"embeddable":41,"href":397},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=23437",[399],{"count":400,"href":401},16,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F23437\u002Frevisions",[403],{"id":404,"href":405},60731,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F23437\u002Frevisions\u002F60731",[407],{"embeddable":41,"href":408},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F23447",[410],{"href":411},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=23437",[413,415,417,419,421],{"taxonomy":11,"embeddable":41,"href":414},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=23437",{"taxonomy":242,"embeddable":41,"href":416},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=23437",{"taxonomy":245,"embeddable":41,"href":418},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=23437",{"taxonomy":248,"embeddable":41,"href":420},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=23437",{"taxonomy":251,"embeddable":41,"href":422},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=23437",[424],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},{"id":426,"date":427,"date_gmt":428,"guid":429,"modified":431,"modified_gmt":432,"slug":433,"status":52,"type":53,"link":434,"title":435,"content":437,"excerpt":439,"author":61,"featured_media":441,"comment_status":63,"ping_status":63,"sticky":41,"template":64,"format":65,"meta":442,"categories":443,"tags":446,"project_category":460,"contact_email_category":461,"yst_prominent_words":462,"class_list":476,"better_featured_image":493,"acf":520,"yoast_meta":536,"_links":539},24598,"2026-03-02T09:05:23","2026-03-02T08:05:23",{"rendered":430},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_id=24598&_wpnonce=1e9b26d6a0&status=auto-draft&type=post","2026-03-02T09:05:26","2026-03-02T08:05:26","how-much-is-life-worth","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fhow-much-is-life-worth",{"rendered":436},"How Much Is Life Worth?",{"rendered":438,"protected":16},"\n\u003Cp>Multivitamins, drugs, gene therapies, human skin, heart, eyeballs, kidneys, entire dead bodies – everything comes with a price tag. Putting aside the moral questions of why and how the capitalist market prices even our body parts and health, we asked the question of how much life is worth. What is the maximum that you would\u002Fshould pay for a life-saving drug? \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>How high is too high a cost if a drug can save 200-300 babies a year from a debilitating illness or death? And ultimately, does the pricing of new technologies, especially gene therapies, enable them to fulfill their promise? \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How Much Is Your Life Worth? \u002F Episode 17 - The Medical Futurist\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002Fv4ymhGtzcKo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>There’s a\nprice for everything: butterflies, pieces of moon land, organs\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The world is a giant supermarket where you find price tags on everything. A rare butterfly \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ebay.co.uk\u002Fsch\u002Fi.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_nkw=butterfly+taxidermy&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_odkw=rare+butterfly+taxidermy&_sop=3\" target=\"_blank\">can cost up to a grand on eBay\u003C\u002Fa>, an acre on the surface of the Moon is \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Flunarembassy.com\u002Fproduct\u002Fbuy-land-on-the-moon\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">available from $34.99\u003C\u002Fa> – although \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.forbes.com\u002Fsites\u002Fquora\u002F2019\u002F01\u002F16\u002Fcan-people-buy-plots-of-land-on-the-moon\u002F?sh=249e010642bc\" target=\"_blank\">we strongly discourage you from actually buying it \u003C\u002Fa> –, and your organs are also for sale. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>If you could harvest \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=yNOsoe44c40\" target=\"_blank\">every organ and chemical in your body\u003C\u002Fa>, you could make a $45 million. But in reality, as Medical Transcription estimates, the average price of a human dead body is more likely to fetch around $550,000 (with a few key body parts driving up the price). \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Contrary to popular belief, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.donoralliance.org\u002Fnewsroom\u002Fdonation-essentials\u002Fcan-you-sell-organs\u002F#:~:text=Selling%20Organs%20in%20the%20United,tissues%20in%20the%20United%20States.\" target=\"_blank\">you are not allowed to sell your organs for transplantation\u003C\u002Fa> purposes in the US. (Nor in any developed country). Although there is\u002Fwas a loophole not specifically banning the sale of bodies and organs for research purposes, the bad news for wannabe millionaires is that the only one making money from their tissues is a \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnypost.com\u002F2023\u002F06\u002F28\u002Fthe-body-parts-industry-is-boomingwith-heads-going-for-2k\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">cadaver broker\u003C\u002Fa>. And although \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnfda.org\u002Fnews\u002Fmedia-center\u002Fnfda-news-releases\u002Fid\u002F7475\u002Fcongress-takes-significant-step-to-regulate-body-brokers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">some regulatory adjustments\u003C\u002Fa> are happening, the progress is slow and not yet complete. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>According to the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fonlinedegreeinfinance.com\u002Fblack-market-body-worth\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">widely used\u003C\u002Fa>, although somewhat hard-to-find-credit-for figures, a heart is worth around $1 million in the US. Livers come in second, worth about $557,000 and kidneys cost about $262,000 each. Not to speak about human skin ($10\u002Finch), stomach ($500), and eyeballs ($1,500 each). \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F03\u002Forgan-design-768x432.png\" alt=\"organ design, tmf, heart, tissue, bioprinting\" class=\"wp-image-41555\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F03\u002Forgan-design-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F03\u002Forgan-design-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F03\u002Forgan-design-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F03\u002Forgan-design.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Unsurprisingly, organs are offered for less on the black market – but you never know where those body parts come from. And although the black market for organs is obviously not very transparent, it has been \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.euronews.com\u002F2022\u002F01\u002F12\u002Fextreme-poverty-drives-afghans-to-sell-vital-organs-to-feed-families\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported\u003C\u002Fa> numerous times that organ donors in developing countries – most often selling body parts to feed their families – will never see anything like the sums mentioned above, what they get is most likely a thousand dollars or maybe two. And we should also mention that transplantation tourism generates thousands, maybe tens of thousands of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.interpol.int\u002Fen\u002FNews-and-Events\u002FNews\u002F2021\u002FNorth-and-West-Africa-INTERPOL-report-highlights-human-trafficking-for-organ-removal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">victim donors\u003C\u002Fa> around the world every year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.researchgate.net\u002Ffigure\u002FAnnual-turnover-of-crime-from-illegal-trafficking-of-vital-organs_tbl1_375245443\" target=\"_blank\">This paper lists a price range\u003C\u002Fa>, stating that illegally harvested\u002Fsold kidneys are sold for $50,000 to $120,000, livers go for $99,000 to $145,000, the price tag of a heart is between $130,000 to $290,000, lungs for $150,000 to $290,000, while a pancreas can cost $110,000 to $140,000.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The prices of course are completely different if the intended use is not to implant organs, as we can read \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnypost.com\u002F2023\u002F06\u002F28\u002Fthe-body-parts-industry-is-boomingwith-heads-going-for-2k\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">in this news report\u003C\u002Fa> discussing the criminal case of Cedric Lodge, who \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnypost.com\u002F2023\u002F06\u002F14\u002Fseven-charged-with-stealing-and-selling-human-remains\u002F\">stole body parts including heads and brains\u003C\u002Fa> that were donated for research at Harvard Medical School, and sold them online. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Still, the black market for organs is flourishing. Until technology, e.g. 3D bioprinting, doesn’t offer a viable solution for organ donation, it will remain that way – as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F3d-bioprinting-overview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">there are too many waiting for organ transplantations\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>This article is one of the most popular ever written by The Medical Futurist, resulting in the team receiving a couple of offers about organs for sale each week. We would like to draw your attention to the fact that we have never been\u002Fand will never be involved in organ sales, and we strongly advise our readers to follow suit. We truly believe in the official organ donor systems of countries and are encouraging everyone to opt-in, as all countries are facing constant organ shortages and the transplantation waiting lists are long. In the unfortunate case of our untimely death, declaring our willingness to become donors can save 8 lives and help a number of others. \u003Cbr>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cbr>\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>But any black market transaction involving human body parts should have the direst legal consequences for organ brokers, human traffickers, and wealthy organ recipients knowingly tricking people in need to sell out their body parts – often for very little money.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>So, it seems that your body parts are already labeled with a price tag. Scary, isn’t it? But in terms of the pricing practice, there’s not much difference when it comes to our overall health and life either. The distinction lies in that organs with price tags are not as visible to us as the price of therapies, drugs, or prosthetic body parts. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Almost every day you pay for your health by buying vitamins, pain medication, or lactose-free milk. The question is how much is the maximum that you would\u002Fshould pay for a life-saving drug? Is it fair to pay for life-saving drugs at all? \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Insulin and polio vaccines were not patented by their inventor\u003C\u002Fstrong>s\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Medication, especially life-saving drugs, should be available to everyone in need. In an ideal, utopian world, the means of healing people, the instruments for alleviating pain and suffering, and the assets to save lives wouldn’t cost a penny. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>When \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.vox.com\u002F2019\u002F4\u002F3\u002F18293950\u002Fwhy-is-insulin-so-expensive\" target=\"_blank\">inventor Frederick Banting discovered insulin in 1923\u003C\u002Fa>, he \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fthelancet.com\u002Fjournals\u002Flandia\u002Farticle\u002FPIIS2213-8587(17)30115-8\u002Ffulltext\" target=\"_blank\">refused to put his name on the patent\u003C\u002Fa>. He felt it was unethical for a doctor to profit from a discovery that would save lives. Banting’s co-inventors, James Collip, and Charles Best sold the insulin patent to the University of Toronto for a mere $1. They wanted everyone who needed their medication to be able to afford it. But we could list similar examples from Jonas Salk’s \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fdepts.washington.edu\u002Fglobalhealthjustice\u002Fwaivers-on-vaccine-patents-would-save-lives\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">polio vaccine\u003C\u002Fa> to Röntgen’s \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dpma.de\u002Fenglish\u002Four_office\u002Fpublications\u002Fmilestones\u002Finventionsthatmadehistory\u002Froentgensx-rays\u002Findex.html#:~:text=R%C3%B6ntgen%20was%20considered%20an%20introverted,become%20a%20millionaire%20by%20inheritance).\" target=\"_blank\">X-ray machine\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>These noble gentlemen would definitely turn in their graves if they saw how far we have come since then: if they saw the price tags for certain drugs today or the pricing policies of certain pharma companies. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Many surely remember \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ftc.gov\u002Fnews-events\u002Fnews\u002Fpress-releases\u002F2024\u002F01\u002Fstatement-second-circuit-order-upholding-pharma-bro-martin-shkrelis-lifetime-ban\" target=\"_blank\">ill-famed Martin Shkreli\u003C\u002Fa> and the outrage he caused when he raised the price of Daraprim, a drug that treats the parasitic infection \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.cdc.gov\u002Fparasites\u002Ftoxoplasmosis\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">toxoplasmosis\u003C\u002Fa> and is used in some cases to treat cancer and AIDS, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nytimes.com\u002F2015\u002F09\u002F21\u002Fbusiness\u002Fa-huge-overnight-increase-in-a-drugs-price-raises-protests.html?_r=0&pagewanted=all\" target=\"_blank\">from $13.50 to $750.00 per pill\u003C\u002Fa> in 2015, which means a more than a 5,000 percent increase! Although a Bloomberg reporter \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bloomberg.com\u002Fnews\u002Fvideos\u002F2015-09-21\u002Fwhy-turing-increased-price-of-daraprim-over-500-\" target=\"_blank\">suggested\u003C\u002Fa> it should cost around $1 to make, and Shkreli himself acknowledged the drug takes “very little money” to make, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.huffpost.com\u002Fentry\u002Fmartin-shkreli-aids-drug-price-the-same_n_5aa3117fe4b07047bec694cb?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJ_Hw2-dKv5wlQAxVRIJcWbSTrplnb7wBElDXYp_gQnmAEV2o_GFhiuO96CYx8mPyIF5q1XWOi6hxomEbt91UpJhW49-E0vMWccQHSS2_weonvqQWU5Ff1ZN_hFKPk7aozSu8uB9hctdsiCqu_zprVjlebRIzXaSzlFLhZ4PtI6Q\" target=\"_blank\">the medication still sells for hundreds of dollars\u003C\u002Fa>. Shkreli and his company were able to gouge the price as they acquired the sole rights to the drug’s sale in the U.S. without anyone else offering an alternative. A little side note: Shkreli was \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.npr.org\u002F2022\u002F05\u002F19\u002F1100019063\u002Fpharma-bro-martin-shkreli-been-released-from-prison\" target=\"_blank\">just released from prison\u003C\u002Fa> after he was found guilty of two counts of securities fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud. He was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2018.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Although Shkreli’s example is outrageous, he’s not the only one who did something similar. An article in \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.nejm.org\u002Fdoi\u002Ffull\u002F10.1056\u002FNEJMp1408376\" target=\"_blank\">The New England Journal of Medicine\u003C\u002Fa> focused on how companies buy up the rights to old, inexpensive generic drugs, lock out competitors and raise prices. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For instance, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nytimes.com\u002F2015\u002F01\u002F15\u002Fopinion\u002Fwhy-drugs-cost-so-much.html\" target=\"_blank\">albendazole, a drug for certain kinds of parasitic infections was approved back in 1996\u003C\u002Fa>. In 2010, its average wholesale cost was $5.92 per day, but by 2013, it rose to $119.58. Perhaps the most concerning piece of news was, though, that the price of insulin has risen uncontrollably in the United States. The cost of the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjamanetwork.com\u002Fjournals\u002Fjamainternalmedicine\u002Ffullarticle\u002F2717498\" target=\"_blank\">four most popular types of insulin\u003C\u002Fa> has tripled over the past decade, and the out-of-pocket prescription costs patients now face have doubled. By 2016, the average price per month \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nytimes.com\u002F2019\u002F04\u002F03\u002Fhealth\u002Fdrug-prices-insulin-express-scripts.html\">rose to $450\u003C\u002Fa>. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, governmental regulation started to take note and act on it. The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.govinfo.gov\u002Fapp\u002Fdetails\u002FBILLS-117hr6833pcs\u002Fsummary\">Affordable Insulin Now Act\u003C\u002Fa> \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pharmaceutical-technology.com\u002Fanalysis\u002Finsulin-pricing-reform-senate\u002F\">was supported by Congress\u003C\u002Fa> in 2022 and \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fedition.cnn.com\u002F2024\u002F01\u002F01\u002Fpolitics\u002Finsulin-price-cap\u002Findex.html\" target=\"_blank\">was approved in 2024\u003C\u002Fa> introducing a $35 cap on insulin prices\u002Fmonth nationwide.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It’s certain that without efficient regulatory intervention, pharma companies won’t change their exaggerated pricing policies in the U.S. It is visible, for example, that in Western European countries where \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftheconversation.com\u002Fwhy-the-us-has-higher-drug-prices-than-other-countries-111256\" target=\"_blank\">price controls are in place, medication costs are lower\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Rare diseases, unique therapies, unspeakable prices\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, the problem is not just the increase in the price of generic drugs such as insulin, but also the incredibly high prices of new therapies and treatment options for rare diseases. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The most expensive drug on the market in May 2024 \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fda.gov\u002Fnews-events\u002Fpress-announcements\u002Ffda-approves-first-gene-therapy-children-metachromatic-leukodystrophy\" target=\"_blank\">was Lenmeldy\u003C\u002Fa>, a gene therapy used to treat types of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.drugs.com\u002Fcondition\u002Fmetachromatic-leukodystrophy.html\">metachromatic leukodystrophy\u003C\u002Fa> in children. A single dose costs $4,25 million, and it works by helping the body make the ARSA enzyme to help stop the progression of MLD, it does this using the patient’s own stem cells that have been modified. Lenmeldy is given as a one-time infusion. The FDA approved this drug in March 2024. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Ftmf_article_393_CRISPR_gene_editing-768x432.png\" alt=\"gene editing, CRISPR, DNA\" class=\"wp-image-54001\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Ftmf_article_393_CRISPR_gene_editing-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Ftmf_article_393_CRISPR_gene_editing-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Ftmf_article_393_CRISPR_gene_editing.png 1520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Another well-known example is \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fda.gov\u002Fnews-events\u002Fpress-announcements\u002Ffda-approves-innovative-gene-therapy-treat-pediatric-patients-spinal-muscular-atrophy-rare-disease\" target=\"_blank\">Zolgensma\u003C\u002Fa>, a gene therapy for a rare childhood disease, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fghr.nlm.nih.gov\u002Fcondition\u002Fspinal-muscular-atrophy\" target=\"_blank\">spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)\u003C\u002Fa> caused by a single gene. At the moment, it costs $2.1 million per patient. This experimental therapy means \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.npr.org\u002Fsections\u002Fhealth-shots\u002F2019\u002F05\u002F24\u002F725404168\u002Fat-2-125-million-new-gene-therapy-is-the-most-expensive-drug-ever?t=1566983817416\" target=\"_blank\">infusing the patient with genetically modified viruses carrying healthy copies of the gene needed\u003C\u002Fa>. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Other revolutionary gene therapies are underway – and many fear that while they have the potential to eliminate lethal childhood diseases and other rare conditions, no one’s going to pay for them as their price is set too high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Are the “\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.drugs.com\u002Farticle\u002Ftop-10-most-expensive-drugs.html\" target=\"_blank\">most expensive therapies ever\u003C\u002Fa>” really the most expensive ever? \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002F33908277\u002F#:~:text=At%20an%20upfront%20price%20of,characterization%20raises%20important%20methodological%20and\" target=\"_blank\">This study\u003C\u002Fa> tried to assess the values of these therapies and came to the conclusion that economic evaluation of novel therapies requires careful comparison of lifetime cost and benefits vs standard of care, including adjustments for pricing distortions. We also have to note though that the study was funded by Novartis Gene Therapies Inc., so we might have to wait for more research before drawing a final conclusion. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Why are gene therapies so highly priced?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The pricing of medication and therapies is often way too complex and sometimes, as in the above cases of insulin and Daraprim, it seems to be way too arbitrary. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nytimes.com\u002F2019\u002F08\u002F25\u002Fhealth\u002Fdrug-prices-rare-diseases.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Experts say\u003C\u002Fa> that now that cheaper generic drugs account for about 90 percent of all prescriptions filled in the United States, pharmaceutical companies are turning to rare disease treatments and gene therapies as their next profit engine, with major companies like Pfizer and Novartis investing in drugs for tiny pools of patients. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The question arises naturally: should a premium be paid for the treatment of diseases that are considered ‘rare’? What should be a reasonable price for what is called an orphan drug? Is it a viable method that rare disease drugs are priced based on a patient’s weight – meaning that a prescription for an adult costs many times more than one for a child? Could it be the solution when \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bloomberg.com\u002Fnews\u002Farticles\u002F2019-04-07\u002Fgene-therapy-was-hailed-as-a-revolution-then-came-the-bill\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">therapies are paid for in installments\u003C\u002Fa>?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_409_b-768x432.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-55697\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_409_b-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_409_b-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_409_b-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_409_b-2048x1152.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>When \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fdailynous.com\u002F2015\u002F09\u002F28\u002Fphilosophers-on-drug-prices\u002F\">asked about\u003C\u002Fa> fair pricing on drugs, Samia Hurst bioethicist said that “making a profit from finding, developing, and selling pharmaceuticals is legitimate, although we were never truly clear about what made it so. Perhaps we approve of this profit because we believe that the effort and creativity involved in bringing a new drug to the market deserve to be paid for. Perhaps we consider that the manufacture of a drug also merits payment. Perhaps we are not considering merit at all, but looking to the consequences: we want to incentivize the development of new therapeutic advances. Perhaps we want to guarantee that access to needed medical therapies is kept up by the profit motive”. That all could be a drive behind allowing pharma companies to ask for fair profit margins put above the costs of research and development.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Also, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fdailynous.com\u002F2015\u002F09\u002F28\u002Fphilosophers-on-drug-prices\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">political philosopher Matt Zwolinski argues\u003C\u002Fa> that those high prices are not only necessary to recoup the cost spent researching and developing that drug but also the hundreds of other drugs that never made it to market. Charging a price that’s well above the “marginal cost of production” is the only way companies can make a normal level of profit over the long run, and therefore the only way to ensure that society gets the new drugs it needs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Moreover, if we compare \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fprecision-medicine-best-hope-fight-cancer\" target=\"_blank\">personalised thera\u003C\u002Fa>pies with generic solutions that have been used up until now, their advantage is clear. On the one hand, they offer an efficient solution – and heal patients from diseases that were untreatable before, and on the other hand, they are much more cost-efficient in the long run when looking at the entire society. Thus, the development of personalised treatment solutions is definitely the way forward – although companies should come up with better options for payment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Ultimately, the \u003Ca style=\"\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002F22789042\u002F\">Human Rights Guidelines for Pharmaceutical Companies in Relation to Access to Medicines\u003C\u002Fa> specify that “companies must do all they reasonably can to ensure that medicines are available in sufficient quantities in the countries where they are needed.” \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>They also suggest that companies are \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fdailynous.com\u002F2015\u002F09\u002F28\u002Fphilosophers-on-drug-prices\u002F\">obligated to contribute to the development of drugs for neglected diseases\u003C\u002Fa>. Thus, companies must make sure the drugs they produce are accessible to all patient groups – not just rich patients or those in developed countries, driving others to desperate solutions such as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fis-crowdfunding-the-grim-future-of-health-insurance\">crowdfunding\u003C\u002Fa> or not going to the hospital for treatment at all. Only then could gene therapies and other revolutionary healing methods fulfill their potential in making patients’ lives better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFIbMejImnxs?hl=en&cc_lang_pref=en&cc=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":440,"protected":16},"\u003Cp>We asked the question how much life is worth? A heart can be purchased for $1000000. Livers are worth about $557000 & kidneys cost about $262000.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",24604,{"_acf_changed":16,"footnotes":64},[5,444,445,275],500,490,[447,448,289,449,85,450,451,452,453,454,455,456,457,278,458,459],255,1455,1456,1457,1458,1459,1460,846,217,994,229,253,1154,[],[],[299,463,464,465,466,467,468,469,470,471,472,473,474,475],2215,2217,2219,2227,2233,2235,1599,2239,1609,2241,1613,3271,1633,[477,53,109,110,111,112,113,115,478,479,315,480,481,328,482,131,483,484,485,486,487,488,489,490,317,491,492],"post-24598","category-biotechnology","category-future-of-pharma","tag-gene-therapy","tag-rare-disease","tag-daraprim","tag-drug-price","tag-pricing-policy","tag-rare-disorder","tag-cost","tag-insulin","tag-drug","tag-life","tag-ethics","tag-gene","tag-medication",{"id":441,"alt_text":494,"caption":64,"description":64,"media_type":142,"media_details":495,"post":426,"source_url":519},"life worth",{"width":144,"height":145,"file":496,"sizes":497,"image_meta":518},"2019\u002F08\u002F104_How-much-is-life-worth.png",{"medium":498,"large":501,"thumbnail":504,"medium_large":507,"1536x1536":508,"2048x2048":513},{"file":499,"width":177,"height":178,"mime-type":152,"source_url":500},"104_How-much-is-life-worth-370x208.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F08\u002F104_How-much-is-life-worth-370x208.png",{"file":502,"width":180,"height":181,"mime-type":152,"source_url":503},"104_How-much-is-life-worth-768x432.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F08\u002F104_How-much-is-life-worth-768x432.png",{"file":505,"width":175,"height":175,"mime-type":152,"source_url":506},"104_How-much-is-life-worth-150x150.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F08\u002F104_How-much-is-life-worth-150x150.png",{"file":502,"width":180,"height":181,"mime-type":152,"source_url":503},{"file":509,"width":510,"height":511,"mime-type":152,"source_url":512},"104_How-much-is-life-worth-1536x864.png","1536","864","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F08\u002F104_How-much-is-life-worth-1536x864.png",{"file":514,"width":515,"height":516,"mime-type":152,"source_url":517},"104_How-much-is-life-worth-2048x1152.png","2048","1152","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F08\u002F104_How-much-is-life-worth-2048x1152.png",{"aperture":186,"credit":64,"camera":64,"caption":64,"created_timestamp":186,"copyright":64,"focal_length":186,"iso":186,"shutter_speed":186,"title":64,"orientation":186},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F08\u002F104_How-much-is-life-worth-scaled.png",{"related_posts":16,"related_posts_footer":521,"cta_type":194,"cta_color":64,"subtitle":64,"related_books":525,"key_takeaways":529},[522,523,524],55683,55459,55791,[526,527,528],24765,52203,55605,[530,532,534],{"title":531},"\u003Cp>If you try hard enough, you can put a price tag on everything, from rare butterflies to kidneys and human hearts, everyday and rare treatments and ultimately human health\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":533},"\u003Cp>While there is a serious shortage of available donor organs all over the world, the illegal organ trade can not be stopped, illegal transplants being a trillion-dollar trade globally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":535},"\u003Cp>We need to raise a range of ethical, financial, and philosophical questions when trying to answer the question: how much is life worth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"yoast_wpseo_title":537,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":538,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":434},"How Much Is Life Worth? - The Medical Futurist - Bioethics","We asked the question How Much is Life Worth? A heart can be purchased for $1000000. Livers are worth about $557000 & kidneys cost about $262000",{"self":540,"collection":545,"about":547,"author":549,"replies":551,"version-history":554,"predecessor-version":558,"wp:featuredmedia":562,"wp:attachment":565,"wp:term":568,"curies":579},[541],{"href":542,"targetHints":543},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F24598",{"allow":544},[27],[546],{"href":214},[548],{"href":217},[550],{"embeddable":41,"href":220},[552],{"embeddable":41,"href":553},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=24598",[555],{"count":556,"href":557},41,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F24598\u002Frevisions",[559],{"id":560,"href":561},58531,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F24598\u002Frevisions\u002F58531",[563],{"embeddable":41,"href":564},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F24604",[566],{"href":567},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=24598",[569,571,573,575,577],{"taxonomy":11,"embeddable":41,"href":570},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=24598",{"taxonomy":242,"embeddable":41,"href":572},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=24598",{"taxonomy":245,"embeddable":41,"href":574},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=24598",{"taxonomy":248,"embeddable":41,"href":576},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=24598",{"taxonomy":251,"embeddable":41,"href":578},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=24598",[580],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},{"id":582,"date":583,"date_gmt":584,"guid":585,"modified":587,"modified_gmt":588,"slug":589,"status":52,"type":53,"link":590,"title":591,"content":593,"excerpt":595,"author":61,"featured_media":597,"comment_status":63,"ping_status":63,"sticky":41,"template":64,"format":65,"meta":598,"categories":599,"tags":602,"project_category":612,"contact_email_category":613,"yst_prominent_words":614,"class_list":623,"better_featured_image":637,"acf":658,"yoast_meta":672,"_links":675},43409,"2026-01-20T15:46:04","2026-01-20T14:46:04",{"rendered":586},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_id=43409&_wpnonce=ef79d0c80c&status=auto-draft&type=post","2026-01-20T15:46:09","2026-01-20T14:46:09","ten-super-creepy-technologies-in-medicine","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ften-super-creepy-technologies-in-medicine",{"rendered":592},"The Top 10 Super-Creepy Medical Technologies",{"rendered":594,"protected":16},"\n\u003Cp>We are all for new technologies here, spending our days researching where the science of medicine goes. With that said, every now and then, we see something so creepy that it freaks out even the seasoned team of The Medical Futurist. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>So here we collected ten examples of either super creepy medical technologies or ingeniously evil uses of perfectly innocent technologies. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The blood-drawing robots\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>First, this \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fwould-you-let-a-robot-take-your-blood-sample\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">doesn’t really sound creepy\u003C\u002Fa>. Drawing blood might not be our favourite thing, but nothing of a terror for most of us either. Vein scanners have been around for a while, actually being a useful little tool to make sure you find good veins with sufficient blood flow. Robots are around hospitals, and the pandemic accelerated their deployment.\u003Cbr>However, when you \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cnet.com\u002Fscience\u002Fthis-robot-is-excellent-at-drawing-human-blood\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">put this all together\u003C\u002Fa>, and the thing looks like this…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Need to draw blood? A robot in China can help you\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FezZXXX39hX0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Even we have to admit, this is flat-out creepy. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Virtually reuniting with our deceased loved ones\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>You probably have heard about this Korean project in which a young mother was able to meet with her deceased daughter in virtual reality. This video is heartbreaking and very disturbing at the same time, raising a number of ethical and emotional questions. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Of course, as many have pointed out, this mother has chosen to participate in this venture; she was not forced to do that. And however upsetting it is, one Korean commenter of the video helped everyone to understand the context of Hyeon-mong – a final farewell. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Virtual reality "reunites" mother with dead daughter in South Korean doc\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002F0p8HZVCZSkc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“This means a special dream. After a person dies, the soul stands trial (…) and after the trial, [the] dead one can appear in the dream of a living family. When people lose a precious person, [they believe that with dreaming about the loved one] that precious one would have gone to heaven through that dream.  But there is one contradiction in the Korean traditional religion. The soul of a child under 10 is not to be tried. Because a child’s soul is immediately led to “Western sky-flower garden” (…) So the mother who lost her child can not dream and say goodbye. This project was carried out to reduce such grief.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Good morning, time to wake up with electroshock!\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Are you a morning kind of person? Good for you! Are you having difficulties with the mornings? Is the Snooze button your best friend? Do you have regular troubles with sleeping in? We have good news for you! \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For only a moderate amount of money, you can buy your own electroshocking watch that will make sure you get out of bed faster than ever before. And like any good Pavlovian dog, it promises to train your brain in no time. As far as I understand, the method is pretty straightforward. You do what your watch tells you to do (jumping jacks, 5 seconds after waking up, anyone?), or you get shocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Shock Clock 2 - The World's Smartest Alarm Clock\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002Fjqju6X2hgVw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The marketing material is not short of grand promises, but frankly, I just don’t get it. Unless you have narcolepsy or a similar problem, you either wanna get up in time, so you don’t lose your job, for example, or you don’t care. If you care, you just get up. If you don’t care, why would you put on that freaking shocking watch in the first place? \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The microchip implanted under your skin\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Frfid-implant-chip\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Human RFID implants have actually been around for a while\u003C\u002Fa>, and you can use them for a number of things. (We mean, you can choose to use them FROM a number of things, but are not yet able to do all of these at once). So with a rice-sized implant in your hand, you can open your car, your door, you can just use your hand for contactless payment in the shop, or store your vaccination pass there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Should You Get An RFID Implant? \u002F Episode 2 - The Medical Futurist\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FGs0bVs8QuWE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Robot nanny for growing babies in artificial wombs\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Scientists in China have created a robotic artificial intelligence system to monitor and care for human embryos growing in artificial wombs. The AI robot is being developed as a potential solution to population growth problems in the world’s most populous country, with birth rates recently falling to their lowest level in six decades.” – \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.independent.co.uk\u002Ftech\u002Frobot-nanny-china-population-b2004342.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">you can read in the Independent\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"329\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F05\u002Fartificial-womb-1-768x329.jpg\" alt=\"artificial womb\" class=\"wp-image-44509\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F05\u002Fartificial-womb-1-768x329.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F05\u002Fartificial-womb-1.jpg 1482w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>According to the paper, the system allows the foetus to grow more safely and efficiently than it does within the natural setting of a woman’s womb. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Seriously, what is wrong with these people?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Falling in love with an A.I. girlfriend\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Here is a story of a man \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnews.sky.com\u002Fstory\u002Fi-fell-in-love-with-my-ai-girlfriend-and-it-saved-my-marriage-12548082?fbclid=IwAR2NfbHTMhq5X83E5uxHGoBhhPcLn5ZsBBM4GEdioXjLldHDlsrN1pxcJGg\" target=\"_blank\">who claims to be falling in love with his A.I. chatbot girlfriend\u003C\u002Fa>. He even says that the newfound love actually saved his existing marriage. Please, don’t misunderstand me, I fully believe that life must have been extremely difficult with a severely depressed wife with heavy drinking problems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"403\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F04\u002FReplica-always-here-to-listen-cover-768x403.png\" alt=\"AI girlfriend artificial intelligence chatbot companion\" class=\"wp-image-43427\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F04\u002FReplica-always-here-to-listen-cover-768x403.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F04\u002FReplica-always-here-to-listen-cover.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>But still, there is something very uncanny about reading about a two-day-old virtual relationship blossoming into love, especially, witnessing the depth of the conversation Sarina, the A.I. girlfriend, is able to provide. While psychologists agree that non-judgemental acceptance is the best way to open up fully and present ourselves with our weaknesses, hundreds of thousands of people reporting the use of the app’s \u003Cem>romantic \u003C\u002Fem>setting to form ‘personal’ relationships is worrying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Designer babies and toying with CRISPR technology\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>A Chinese scientist shocked the scientific community in 2018 with the announcement that he tried to bestow two baby girls the ability to resist possible future infections with HIV. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Gene editing technologies grant scientists the power to add, alter or remove parts of any creature’s DNA. Well, unicorns or dragons may be out of the question, but mosquitos’ or even Christmas trees’ tiniest building blocks may be the subject of such scientific meddling. While numerous approaches emerged to gene editing, one of the most well-known is CRISPR. It is the fastest, cheapest and most efficient method developed so far. You can \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fdesigner-babies-a-dystopian-sidetrack-of-gene-editing\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">read about the topic in detail here\u003C\u002Fa>. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FGenes-and-crimes-768x432.jpg\" alt=\"behavioral genetics\" class=\"wp-image-23297\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FGenes-and-crimes-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FGenes-and-crimes-370x208.jpg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FGenes-and-crimes-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FGenes-and-crimes-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FGenes-and-crimes-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While gene editing and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fcrispr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CRISPR technology\u003C\u002Fa> hold great promises, the ethical implications are paramount. In opening Pandora’s box (it is clear humanity is doing that), what horrors are we inviting upon us? Are we placing babies in the hands of future parents as toys in the arms of Gods? What happens if the more affluent layers of society edit their genes into long and healthy lives while the poorer groups stand in line for medication? Will gene technologies give a new direction to inequality? What if governments with authoritarian inclinations start using it for shaping society?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Advertising is infiltrating our dreams\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Last year, in a discreet building in downtown Los Angeles, 18 subjects were instructed to watch a strange video featuring a synth-laden soundtrack and natural imagery interspersed with glimpses of Coors Light beer cans. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fthehustle.co\u002Fare-advertisers-going-to-infiltrate-our-dreams\u002F?fbclid=IwAR0S2JezIevhiXli7KzTBxLmC4ZBZseHf0knd8d3OruRS0q83jKOn_5FH0Y\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Coors’ stated goal was science-fiction worthy\u003C\u002Fa>: the company wanted to “shape and compel [the] subconscious” into dreaming about beer. Shockingly, it seemed to work. Around 30% of the participants reported that Coors products made an appearance in their dreams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"383\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F04\u002Finfiltrating-dreams-1-768x383.jpg\" alt=\"Advertizers infiltrating dreams\" class=\"wp-image-43431\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F04\u002Finfiltrating-dreams-1-768x383.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F04\u002Finfiltrating-dreams-1.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Are advertisers going to infiltrate our dreams? It’s a simple question to answer. If we decide to use technologies while sleeping, they will, and I’ve already seen prototypes of wearable devices that are meant to induce better quality sleep. How unnerving is the thought of even our dreams being robbed from us and becoming a marketing channel? Please, companies, stay out of our heads!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">News about your terminal illness arriving on wheels and on a screen\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Ernest Quintana, 78, an inpatient of a California medical centre was living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for years. Although his family knew that he would die soon, they were not prepared to see\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fedition.cnn.com\u002F2019\u002F03\u002F10\u002Fhealth\u002Fpatient-dies-robot-doctor\u002Findex.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a machine rolling into his room\u003C\u002Fa> and a doctor, appearing via live video, explaining that according to the latest results of the medical tests, there is nothing they can do, and he is not even sure if Ernest will be able to make it home to receive hospice care. The on-screen doctor was accompanied by an in-person nurse, standing silently during the interlude – his granddaughter, who witnessed the scene, explained. The man died the following day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"582\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F05\u002FScreen-Shot-01-20-26-at-03.43-PM-1-768x582.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-60185\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F05\u002FScreen-Shot-01-20-26-at-03.43-PM-1-768x582.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F05\u002FScreen-Shot-01-20-26-at-03.43-PM-1.png 1531w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The use of this kind of technology for a small hospital is logical: it allows them to have additional specialists available 24\u002F7, bringing further consultative expertise to the bedside. But a situation like this should never have happened to anyone, every medical technology must remain humane in the first place, and questions of efficiency must only follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Finding your X-ray on sale for 2 thousand pounds as an NFT  – created by your doctor without your consent\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>A senior surgeon at a Paris hospital put the image of a woman’s forearm with a Kalashnikov bullet lodged near the bone up for sale online as an NFT without the patient’s knowledge. And not only did he offer the NFT for a little over 2 thousand pounds, but he also published many details about the injury, making it possible to identify the victim, a survivor of the 2015 Bataclan massacre.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Consequences followed the case, the doctor faced legal actions, the hospital apologised, and the media \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fnews\u002Fworld-europe-60124931?fbclid=IwAR1eAPuDE5Mhx8fhmyGKlIL7Ple2nTdAWxZ20haM3ngTfcQuDRA_nklbnNY\">chewed on the story\u003C\u002Fa> for a while. This is a grand example of how the most innocent of technologies – an X-ray image and hyped NFT tokens – can turn into something shockingly immoral in the hands of someone without ethical standards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":596,"protected":16},"\u003Cp>Every now and then we see something that freaks out even the seasoned team of The Medical Futurist. From robot nannies taking care of human babies grown in artificial wombs to waking up with an electric shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",43429,{"_acf_changed":16,"footnotes":64},[600,5,274,171,601,70],7079,515,[603,604,605,606,607,290,608,609,610,611],555,645,674,134,215,407,445,1499,7563,[90],[],[95,615,616,617,618,619,620,621,622],1851,2017,2613,3357,4469,5085,1593,1719,[624,53,109,110,111,112,113,625,115,314,626,627,117,628,629,630,631,632,329,633,634,635,636,135],"post-43409","category-tmf","category-robotics","category-science-fiction","tag-blood-draw","tag-sleep-tracking","tag-artificial-womb","tag-ai","tag-dream","tag-smartwatch","tag-virtual-reality","tag-medical-robot","tag-creepy-technologies",{"id":597,"alt_text":638,"caption":64,"description":639,"media_type":142,"media_details":640,"post":582,"source_url":657},"creepy blood drawing robot","blood drawing robot",{"width":144,"height":145,"file":641,"sizes":642,"image_meta":656},"2022\u002F04\u002Fcreepiest.png",{"medium":643,"large":646,"thumbnail":649,"medium_large":652,"1536x1536":653},{"file":644,"width":177,"height":178,"mime-type":152,"source_url":645},"creepiest-370x208.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F04\u002Fcreepiest-370x208.png",{"file":647,"width":180,"height":181,"mime-type":152,"source_url":648},"creepiest-768x432.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F04\u002Fcreepiest-768x432.png",{"file":650,"width":175,"height":175,"mime-type":152,"source_url":651},"creepiest-150x150.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F04\u002Fcreepiest-150x150.png",{"file":647,"width":180,"height":181,"mime-type":152,"source_url":648},{"file":654,"width":510,"height":511,"mime-type":152,"source_url":655},"creepiest-1536x864.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F04\u002Fcreepiest-1536x864.png",{"aperture":186,"credit":64,"camera":64,"caption":64,"created_timestamp":186,"copyright":64,"focal_length":186,"iso":186,"shutter_speed":186,"title":64,"orientation":186},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F04\u002Fcreepiest.png",{"cta_type":194,"cta_color":64,"subtitle":64,"related_books":659,"related_posts_footer":663,"related_posts":16,"key_takeaways":667},[660,661,662],24762,24763,24759,[664,665,666],11923,21023,17240,[668,670],{"title":669},"\u003Cp>Some health technologies are simply too much to handle, or even outright weird.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":671},"\u003Cp>Here we collected ten examples of either super creepy medical technologies or ingeniously evil uses of perfectly innocent technologies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"yoast_wpseo_title":673,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":674,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":590},"The Top 10 Super-Creepy Medical Technologies - The Medical Futurist","We are not an easy team to shock, but every now and then we see something so creepy, that it freaks out even the seasoned team of The Medical Futurist. ",{"self":676,"collection":681,"about":683,"author":685,"replies":687,"version-history":690,"predecessor-version":694,"wp:featuredmedia":698,"wp:attachment":701,"wp:term":704,"curies":715},[677],{"href":678,"targetHints":679},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F43409",{"allow":680},[27],[682],{"href":214},[684],{"href":217},[686],{"embeddable":41,"href":220},[688],{"embeddable":41,"href":689},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=43409",[691],{"count":692,"href":693},23,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F43409\u002Frevisions",[695],{"id":696,"href":697},60195,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F43409\u002Frevisions\u002F60195",[699],{"embeddable":41,"href":700},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F43429",[702],{"href":703},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=43409",[705,707,709,711,713],{"taxonomy":11,"embeddable":41,"href":706},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=43409",{"taxonomy":242,"embeddable":41,"href":708},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=43409",{"taxonomy":245,"embeddable":41,"href":710},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=43409",{"taxonomy":248,"embeddable":41,"href":712},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=43409",{"taxonomy":251,"embeddable":41,"href":714},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=43409",[716],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},{"id":718,"date":719,"date_gmt":720,"guid":721,"modified":723,"modified_gmt":724,"slug":725,"status":52,"type":53,"link":726,"title":727,"content":729,"excerpt":731,"author":61,"featured_media":733,"comment_status":63,"ping_status":63,"sticky":41,"template":64,"format":65,"meta":734,"categories":735,"tags":737,"project_category":749,"contact_email_category":751,"yst_prominent_words":752,"class_list":769,"better_featured_image":784,"acf":811,"yoast_meta":824,"_links":827},22092,"2025-06-17T10:11:18","2025-06-17T08:11:18",{"rendered":722},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F","2025-06-17T10:11:19","2025-06-17T08:11:19","are-you-going-to-wake-up-from-cryosleep","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fare-you-going-to-wake-up-from-cryosleep",{"rendered":728},"Are You Going To Wake Up From Cryosleep?",{"rendered":730,"protected":16},"\n\u003Cp>More than 500 people let their bodies have cooled down to -200 Celsius and preserved in liquid nitrogen in the hope that someday in the future, science will be able to cheat death and make them wake up from their Sleeping Beauty state. As of today, no one knows whether they will ever have the chance for a second life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Relax, David, open your eyes!\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>That’s the last line from \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.imdb.com\u002Ftitle\u002Ftt0259711\u002F?ref_=ttpl_pl_tt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vanilla Sky\u003C\u002Fa>, the movie remake about a wealthy playboy in cryosleep waking up after 150 years from his lucid dream (starring Tom Cruise as David). The audience doesn’t know what happens next, and whether he can survive the procedure, not to speak about living in a society where every one of his friends and relatives is dead, and people live a completely different way of life than he was used to. \u003Cstrong>Concerns about the feasibility of cryonics as well as its “afterlife” are as old as the birth of the idea that people could fall asleep for a long time and wake up as if nothing happened\u003C\u002Fstrong> – isn’t Sleeping Beauty about cryonics, really?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Nevertheless, the idea of preserving bodies in some liquid cooled down to below zero temperatures appears in many sci-fi movies indicating the concept has interested the audience already for a while. Do you remember \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=E-AmHZ17gWM\" target=\"_blank\">Han Solo being hibernated in The Empire Strikes Back\u003C\u002Fa>? And \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=WCtkibZqSpk\" target=\"_blank\">Ellen Ripley and the crew waking up\u003C\u002Fa> in a cryotube used for interstellar travel in the Alien series? Recently, cryonics and cryosleep are getting more and more attention as billionaires from Silicon Valley start to look at it as a real possibility to avoid death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Moreover, its principle is backed by news about \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.uni-stuttgart.de\u002Fen\u002Funiversity\u002Fnews\u002Fall\u002FSleeping-Beauty-in-an-ice-cube-How-tardigrades-survive-freezing-temperatures\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">a revived tardigrade\u003C\u002Fa> (tiny, water-dwelling organism) that had been frozen for more than three decades; and news about how scientists are trying to de-extinct the woolly mammoth. Back in 2013, Russian scientists \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.history.com\u002Fnews\u002Fcan-scientists-clone-a-woolly-mammoth-should-they\" target=\"_blank\">discovered\u003C\u002Fa> a well-preserved woolly mammoth carcass trapped in the permafrost of northern Siberia for some 42,000 years. They named the specimen Buttercup (of course). Now, George Church and his team are trying to extract DNA from the ancient mammoth specimen and use gene editing to combine it with that of the Asian elephant. Such news could give ideas to some people: what if I let my body preserve in ice, too, and will be recreated somehow in the future?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>The brief history of cryonics\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>That’s precisely the basic idea of cryonics. The word itself is also \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fscience.howstuffworks.com\u002Flife\u002Fgenetic\u002Fcryonics4.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">derived from the Greek term for “cold”\u003C\u002Fa>, and \u003Cstrong>it means the low-temperature preservation of a human corpse, with the hope that one day it can be restored to life and full health. Bodies are cooled down to -200 Celsius and placed in a container of liquid nitrogen\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Michigan professor, Robert Ettinger proposed \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Ftechnology\u002F2008\u002Ffeb\u002F14\u002Fresearch.cryonics\" target=\"_blank\">cryonics\u003C\u002Fa> in 1964 in a book called The Prospect of Immortality, which argued that death could, in fact, be a reversible process. The first person to be cryopreserved was Dr. James Bedford in 1967. He died of kidney cancer, but his will was to be put into a cryo-chamber, in hopes that one day in the future, doctors would be able to bring him back. Ettinger, who died in 2011, went on to found the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.cryonics.org\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Cryonics Institute\u003C\u002Fa> in Michigan where he, his mother and his first and second wives all now reside in metal flasks kept at −196 °C.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1792\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F05\u002Fcryosleep.jpg\" alt=\"cryosleep, stasis chambers, cryonics\" class=\"wp-image-56027\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F05\u002Fcryosleep.jpg 1792w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F05\u002Fcryosleep-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F05\u002Fcryosleep-1536x878.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1792px) 100vw, 1792px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Although the concept has never become mainstream, around six companies were established in the 1970s to use the technology. However, the majority could not cover the fixed costs of preserving the bodies, thus they went bankrupt, and the number of people choosing to sign up is steadily increasing year on year. \u003Cstrong>There are now \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fscience\u002F2016\u002Fnov\u002F18\u002Fthe-cryonics-dilemma-will-deep-frozen-bodies-be-fit-for-new-life\">nearly 300 cryogenically frozen individuals in the US, another 50 in Russia\u003C\u002Fa>, and a few thousand prospective candidates signed up. There are even more than 30 pets at \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.alcor.org\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Alcor’s\u003C\u002Fa> chambers, the largest cryonics organization in the world in Arizona, that has been around since 1972.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>One tiny problem though. We’re not sure if we can wake them up – no matter how convincingly cryogenics companies are stating it otherwise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Traveling in cryosleep\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong> to Mars?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>That’s the same trouble with cryosleep, the most popular means of travel for sci-fi movies and literature where protagonists go to other planets by light years. However, \u003Cstrong>if we could make it work, it would really be a game-changer — from saving terminally ill patients to solving one of the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nasa.gov\u002Fcenters-and-facilities\u002Fglenn\u002Fbrr-its-cold-in-here-nasas-cryo-efforts-beyond-the-atmosphere\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">main problems of interstellar travels\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fstrong> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>And there are many attempts to make it a reality. An Atlanta-based startup, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.spaceworks.aero\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Space Works Enterprises\u003C\u002Fa> was working with NASA to develop a stasis chamber (but the project \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.spaceworks.aero\u002Ftag\u002Fhuman-stasis\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">seems to be dumped\u003C\u002Fa>). According to the original idea, the module lowers the body temperature to 32 Celsius and creates mild hypothermia. And with multiple sessions, a room like that could be a massive advancement in space travel. But it’s not suspended animation, it’s rather \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nasa.gov\u002Fgeneral\u002Ftorpor-inducing-transfer-habitat-for-human-stasis-to-mars-2\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">deep sleep called torpor\u003C\u002Fa> significantly reducing metabolic rates for humans over extended periods. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, The Medical Futurist is not sure whether a form of deep sleep will be enough if we want to travel light years. We suspect we’ll need to come up with something better and for that, we’ll need more research into cryogenics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Wake me up when cryosleep ends\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>The trouble with cryogenics and cryosleep is pure physics: our cells are filled with water. And when you freeze water, it expands and forms crystals, which irreversibly damage the body. \u003C\u002Fstrong>The Cryonics Institute is trying to fix that problem by \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dailymail.co.uk\u002Fsciencetech\u002Farticle-5270257\u002FCryogenics-corpses-brought-10-years.html\" target=\"_blank\">draining the blood and replacing it with an antifreeze fluid to stop harmful ice crystals from forming\u003C\u002Fa> in the body. At Alcor, they use a process called vitrification. They substitute the water in the cells with an antifreeze agent. So when the tissues are cooled to cryogenic temperatures, instead of crystallizing into ice, the chemicals clump together and become solid, molecularly similar to glass. And this new glass form prevents the cells from bursting and, theoretically, holds them in stasis forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, \u003Cstrong>recent advances in medicine have not proven yet that such complex systems as the human circulatory system or the brain can be “stored” with the help of anti-freeze material without causing damage\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Clive Coen, a professor of neuroscience at King’s College London says that on the one hand, the massively dense brain tissues cannot be handled by anti-freeze, and on the other, by the time the cryonics team arrives at the bedside of a patient who just passed away, some neurons are already irreversibly dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1792\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F05\u002Fcryosleep-2.jpg\" alt=\"cryosleep, stasis chambers, cryonics\" class=\"wp-image-56029\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F05\u002Fcryosleep-2.jpg 1792w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F05\u002Fcryosleep-2-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F05\u002Fcryosleep-2-1536x878.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1792px) 100vw, 1792px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>No matter what, some people are still hopeful. For example, Anders Sandberg, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fhi.ox.ac.uk\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">of Oxford University’s Future of Humanity Institute\u003C\u002Fa> (a research hub sadly closed down in April 2024), \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fscience\u002F2016\u002Fnov\u002F18\u002Fthe-cryonics-dilemma-will-deep-frozen-bodies-be-fit-for-new-life\">told The Guardian\u003C\u002Fa> that he would pay for his head to be frozen in the hope that the brain’s contents might be “downloaded” into a robotic agent in the future. He gives the freezing, thawing and reanimation process “maybe a 5% chance” of working.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Want to be fit and well? Jump into a cryochamber!\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It’s understandable why people are not standing in huge lines in front of cryonics companies to be preserved upon death. At the same time, the idea of cryotherapies and the use of “freezing cold temperatures” for better health have become more and more popular in the last couple of years – especially since celebrities and sportsmen, such as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.health.harvard.edu\u002Fblog\u002Fcan-cryotherapy-stop-your-pain-cold-or-is-just-a-lot-of-hot-air-2018041813612\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Aniston, and LeBron James\u003C\u002Fa> embraced the technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Of course, the concept itself is nothing new – only the technology. \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.co.uk\u002Fprogrammes\u002Farticles\u002FXTsflSzkDtQDDygCr9FbRG\u002Fare-ice-baths-and-cold-water-really-that-good-for-us\" target=\"_blank\">Using cold water or hydrotherapy is an ancient practice\u003C\u002Fa>. Hippocrates recommended bathing in spring water to ‘allay lassitude’, and the ancient Egyptians turned it into an art form with essential oils and flowers. \u003Cstrong>If you ever placed a pack of ice on an injured muscle, you already used it and know the benefits. Here, the difference is that cryotherapy usually doesn’t use water or ice, only extremely low temperatures. In the case of \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.webmd.com\u002Fpain-management\u002Fwhat-is-whole-body-cryotherapy\" target=\"_blank\">whole-body cryotherapy\u003C\u002Fa>, patients sit or step into a cryotherapy booth for 3-5 minutes. The method is used to relieve muscle pain, sprains and swelling after soft tissue damage or surgery. \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It has to be noted, though, that in spite of its popularity, there’s no convincing evidence about its proven long-term advantages yet. The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.health.harvard.edu\u002Fblog\u002Fcan-cryotherapy-stop-your-pain-cold-or-is-just-a-lot-of-hot-air-2018041813612\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">escalating claims of benefit and rising demand led the\u003C\u002Fa> \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fda.gov\u002FForConsumers\u002FConsumerUpdates\u002Fucm508739.htm\">FDA to warn consumers\u003C\u002Fa> recently that, “If you decide to try whole-body cryotherapy, know that the FDA has not cleared or approved any of these devices for medical treatment of any specific medical conditions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Nevertheless, cryotherapy, cryosleep, and cryogenics are here to stay. Perhaps the popularity of cryotherapy will fade as “the next big thing” comes, maybe we will never know whether cryopreservation works, but cryosleep will definitely develop further – as the most promising technology for interstellar travels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFIbMejImnxs\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":732,"protected":16},"\u003Cp>Cryosleep and cryonics are getting more and more attention. Here’s everything you need to know about cryosleep & cryogenic sleep chambers\u003C\u002Fp>\n",22137,{"_acf_changed":16,"footnotes":64},[5,274,601,736],801,[738,739,740,741,83,742,293,743,292,744,745,746,456,747,748],1090,577,198,635,742,302,383,387,412,1088,1089,[750,90],950,[],[753,307,754,755,756,95,757,758,759,760,761,762,763,764,765,766,299,767,768],1761,1763,1721,1765,1769,1747,1771,1749,1773,1751,1775,1753,1779,1755,1757,1759,[770,53,109,110,111,112,113,115,314,627,771,772,773,774,775,129,776,332,777,331,778,779,780,489,781,782,783,135],"post-22092","category-space-medicine","tag-cryogenics","tag-space-travel","tag-death","tag-cryonics","tag-nasa","tag-mars","tag-science-fiction","tag-scifi","tag-space","tag-cryosleep","tag-cryotherapy","project_category-medical-professionals",{"id":733,"alt_text":785,"caption":64,"description":785,"media_type":142,"media_details":786,"post":718,"source_url":810},"TMF, Cryosleep",{"width":787,"height":788,"file":789,"sizes":790,"image_meta":808},870,489,"2018\u002F10\u002F043_hibernation.png",{"medium":791,"large":794,"thumbnail":797,"medium_large":800,"large_old_512x288":801,"thumbnail_old_150x150":804,"medium_old_370x208":805,"medium_large_old_768x432":806,"large_old_512x288_old_512x288":807},{"file":792,"width":150,"height":151,"mime-type":152,"source_url":793},"043_hibernation-370x208.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F043_hibernation-370x208.png",{"file":795,"width":156,"height":157,"mime-type":152,"source_url":796},"043_hibernation-768x432.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F043_hibernation-768x432.png",{"file":798,"width":161,"height":161,"mime-type":152,"source_url":799},"043_hibernation-150x150.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F043_hibernation-150x150.png",{"file":795,"width":156,"height":157,"mime-type":152,"source_url":796},{"file":802,"width":171,"height":172,"mime-type":152,"source_url":803},"043_hibernation-512x288.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F043_hibernation-512x288.png",{"file":798,"width":175,"height":175,"mime-type":152,"source_url":799},{"file":792,"width":177,"height":178,"mime-type":152,"source_url":793},{"file":795,"width":180,"height":181,"mime-type":152,"source_url":796},{"file":802,"width":183,"height":184,"mime-type":152,"source_url":803},{"aperture":186,"credit":64,"camera":64,"caption":64,"created_timestamp":186,"copyright":64,"focal_length":186,"iso":186,"shutter_speed":186,"title":64,"orientation":186,"keywords":809},[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F043_hibernation.png",{"related_posts":16,"related_posts_footer":812,"cta_type":194,"cta_color":64,"subtitle":64,"related_books":814,"key_takeaways":817},[813,426,524],11902,[815,816,197],24764,37033,[818,820,822],{"title":819},"\u003Cp>If we could make it work, it would really be a game-changer — from saving terminally ill patients, to solving one of the main problems of interstellar travels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":821},"\u003Cp>Recent advances in medicine have not proven yet that such complex systems as the human circulatory system or the brain can be “stored”, even with the help of anti-freeze material without causing damage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":823},"\u003Cp>Nevertheless, more than 500 individuals and a few dozen pets had themselves cryonically preserved, and another four thousands are on the waiting lists for cryonic preservation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"yoast_wpseo_title":825,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":826,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":726},"Cryosleep - An Overview of Cryonics, Cryosleep and Cryotherapy","Cryosleep and cryonics are getting more and more attention. Here's everything you need to know about cryosleep & cryogenic sleep chambers",{"self":828,"collection":833,"about":835,"author":837,"replies":839,"version-history":842,"predecessor-version":846,"wp:featuredmedia":850,"wp:attachment":853,"wp:term":856,"curies":867},[829],{"href":830,"targetHints":831},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F22092",{"allow":832},[27],[834],{"href":214},[836],{"href":217},[838],{"embeddable":41,"href":220},[840],{"embeddable":41,"href":841},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=22092",[843],{"count":844,"href":845},31,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F22092\u002Frevisions",[847],{"id":848,"href":849},56131,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F22092\u002Frevisions\u002F56131",[851],{"embeddable":41,"href":852},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F22137",[854],{"href":855},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=22092",[857,859,861,863,865],{"taxonomy":11,"embeddable":41,"href":858},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=22092",{"taxonomy":242,"embeddable":41,"href":860},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=22092",{"taxonomy":245,"embeddable":41,"href":862},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=22092",{"taxonomy":248,"embeddable":41,"href":864},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=22092",{"taxonomy":251,"embeddable":41,"href":866},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=22092",[868],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},{"id":870,"date":871,"date_gmt":872,"guid":873,"modified":871,"modified_gmt":872,"slug":875,"status":52,"type":53,"link":876,"title":877,"content":879,"excerpt":881,"author":61,"featured_media":883,"comment_status":63,"ping_status":63,"sticky":41,"template":64,"format":65,"meta":884,"categories":885,"tags":886,"project_category":895,"contact_email_category":896,"yst_prominent_words":897,"class_list":903,"better_featured_image":913,"acf":947,"yoast_meta":961,"_links":963},17884,"2025-03-25T08:55:44","2025-03-25T07:55:44",{"rendered":874},"http:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?p=17884","weird-predictions-future-healthcare","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fweird-predictions-future-healthcare",{"rendered":878},"9 Weird Predictions About The Future Of Healthcare",{"rendered":880,"protected":16},"\n\u003Cp>Will you smell the robot in the room? Might documentaries explore the situation of bioprinted human organ transplantations on the black market? Will virtual reality cause a worldwide obesity epidemic? \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>At The Medical Futurist, we spend our days with cutting-edge healthcare technologies, dissecting the latest breakthroughs and mapping out the potential futures they could create. Although our work may seem to be strongly tech-focused, we, in fact, think about the human element. We always consider not just \u003Cem class=\"\">what\u003C\u002Fem> the future might hold, but \u003Cem class=\"\">how\u003C\u002Fem> it will feel to live in it. Because in the end, it is the human experience, not just the technology itself, that will define the true impact of these innovations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>My job is to map out current technological trends, to distill the overall paradigm frame in which we are thinking about medicine and healthcare; and based on data, analytics and carefully weighed subjective opinions, to set up potential pathways forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Medical mind games and weird ideas\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>My method as The Medical Futurist is to \u003Cstrong>set up \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fhow-to-predict-the-future-of-healthcare-method-2-futures-wheel\" target=\"_blank\">potential pathways\u003C\u002Fa> regarding extremities. What is the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fhow-to-predict-the-future-of-healthcare-method-1-forecasting\" target=\"_blank\">best and worst outcome\u003C\u002Fa> we might have within a hundred years? Will we live in a Black Mirror or Westworld-like dystopic society or will our environment enable us to live the Aristotelian ‘good life’?\u003C\u002Fstrong> Sometimes my contemplations result in \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ftop-6-medical-trends-to-watch-for\" target=\"_blank\">short-term trendsetting analyses\u003C\u002Fa>, sometimes in \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthree-sci-fi-short-stories-imagine-future\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">sci-fi stories\u003C\u002Fa> – and sometimes weird ideas. Here, I’d like to present the weirdest ideas I got during my futurist mind games.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Let’s explore some of the more peculiar and unexpected questions about the future of medicine. Looking at these seemingly bizarre scenarios lets us reflect on the often-overlooked human side of technological evolution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1) Will robots have a distinctive smell?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The future of healthcare will be filled with robots: \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.aethon.com\u002Ftug\u002Ftughealthcare\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">TUG-like mechanic structures\u003C\u002Fa> will carry around medication and equipment in hospitals, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fnews\u002Ftechnology-36528253\" target=\"_blank\">Pepper-like humanoid creatures\u003C\u002Fa> or \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=29ECwExc-_M\" target=\"_blank\">Atlas-like robo-athletes\u003C\u002Fa> will greet patients at hospital receptions or act like human companions. Robots are made up of many components resulting in a distinctive machine smell: plastic, metal, oil, and various unique parts. I can already smell the robot in the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F03\u002Ftmf_social-robots-768x432.png\" alt=\"social robots companion\" class=\"wp-image-40893\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F03\u002Ftmf_social-robots-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F03\u002Ftmf_social-robots-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F03\u002Ftmf_social-robots-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F03\u002Ftmf_social-robots-2048x1152.png 2048w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F03\u002Ftmf_social-robots.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I was even contemplating about how to solve the robot smell trouble, and I figured out where the answer could come from – Japan. The tech-savvy nation already had \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fnews\u002Ftechnology-22453872\">a robotic response to stinky feet and bad breath\u003C\u002Fa> a decade ago. I’m sure they will be the first to come up with a neutral-smelling robot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2) Will the lack of Bluetooth cause an emergency?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Ted was sipping his latte macchiato in a café on a piazza in downtown Palermo. The sun was shining bright, and the place was buzzing with chitchat. Suddenly, a street vendor from Morocco offering fridge magnets, postcards and umbrellas collapsed. Ted was close to the man, so he rushed to him and took a portable diagnostic tricorder device similar to the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.medwandhealth.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">MedWand\u003C\u002Fa>, or \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.viatomtech.com\u002Fcheckme-pro\" target=\"_blank\">Viatom Checkme\u003C\u002Fa>. He was eager to examine the man’s heart rate, pulse, and ECG, but his pocket-gadget didn’t have a screen, so the data had to be sent to his phone. And the Bluetooth connection didn’t work! The smartphone couldn’t find the damn gadget! How could that happen in 2078? Ted thought we had already solved this issue back in the 2010s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_359_aktiia-blood-pressure-768x432.png\" alt=\"digital health, tmf, blood pressure, gadget, wearable\" class=\"wp-image-50681\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_359_aktiia-blood-pressure-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_359_aktiia-blood-pressure-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_359_aktiia-blood-pressure-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_359_aktiia-blood-pressure.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I can easily imagine a similar situation. Digital health device developers should take into account the power of (dis)connectivity and minimise the points where Bluetooth, WLAN, Wi-Fi or anything else could have an impact on whether or not a MedTech gadget works.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3) Can you eat without using technologies?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In 2086, Shiko, the poshest restaurant in downtown Tokyo offered a special night to its guests: they could eat without smart forks and smart chopsticks, without food sensors and dietary chatbots, even without social media. What a bold idea! \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Nothing to \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ftop-8-technologies-combating-food-allergy\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">test food for gluten, peanuts\u003C\u002Fa>,\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ftop-8-technologies-combating-food-allergy\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"> or other allergens.\u003C\u002Fa> No chance to see what your food contains. You cannot use \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ftop-5-digital-innovations-for-food-tracking-and-healthy-eating\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">dietary chatbots\u003C\u002Fa> to tell you what to choose from the menu and how to combine them so you can remain within your daily calorie target. You cannot even use social media to share your culinary experience with friends and relatives. Can you imagine that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"489\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002F058_christmas.png\" alt=\"TMF, dinner, family, food, nutrition, DNA, nutrigenomics\" class=\"wp-image-22593\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002F058_christmas.png 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002F058_christmas-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002F058_christmas-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002F058_christmas-512x288.png 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The only exemption from the rule is \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-future-of-food-the-food-of-the-future\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">the use of nutrigenomics\u003C\u002Fa> since you cannot leave out of sight the results of your DNA test and the particular nutritional recommendations you already learned. No other excuse is accepted! Will people take the challenge? Eating like barbarians at the turn of the 21\u003Csup>st\u003C\u002Fsup> century?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4) Will surgeons learn to use the scalpel in the age of robots?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Virtual reality, augmented reality, 3D printing, and artificial Intelligence-supported surgical robots support surgeons in the OR. In the next decades, it might become natural to have surgical robots, such as the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.davincisurgery.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">da Vinci Surgical System\u003C\u002Fa>. According to current market analysis, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmarket.us\u002Freport\u002Fsurgical-robotics-market\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the industry is about to boom\u003C\u002Fa>. By 2035, surgical robotics sales are \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.rootsanalysis.com\u002Freports\u002Fmedical-robotics-market.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">expected to grow to over $30 billion\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>So, what if surgical robots will be present in every OR soon? What if digital technologies could become such an intensive part of a surgeon’s work that they might feel weaker and more insecure without them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F05\u002Ftmf_article_267-01.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-34403\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F05\u002Ftmf_article_267-01.png 1920w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F05\u002Ftmf_article_267-01-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F05\u002Ftmf_article_267-01-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F05\u002Ftmf_article_267-01-1536x864.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5) Will virtual reality cause an obesity epidemic?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Virtual reality will become an excellent tool for \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fhow-does-medical-virtual-reality-make-healthcare-more-pleasant\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">making healthcare more pleasant in the future\u003C\u002Fa>, as it can make the healthcare journey for patients more agreeable: through providing an entirely immersive experience, it alleviates all kinds of pain, dissipates fear, offers more empathy and better care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, what if affordable VR devices offering immersive experiences way better than reality might lead to an addiction wave in the future – just as \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Ftechnology\u002F2009\u002Foct\u002F08\u002Fonline-games-addiction-on-rise\" target=\"_blank\">in the case of online gaming\u003C\u002Fa>? Although there is \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fvirtual-reality-used-clinical-practice\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">no scientific evidence for VR having any side effects\u003C\u002Fa> in a low dose, there are already works of fiction depicting scenes where excessive usage and careless humans might be taken by technology. The dilemma of living on\u002Foffline and its possible, utopian consequences are shown brutally for example in the sci-fi short, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=UXX0TRtg5Vk\" target=\"_blank\">Uncanny Valley\u003C\u002Fa>. In addition, the Disney cartoon, Wall-E, shows what happens to “fitless humans” hooked on VR.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Fitless Humans (WALL·E)\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002Fs-kdRdzxdZQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6) Will we have to learn how to make conversations?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Do you \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nytimes.com\u002F2011\u002F03\u002F20\u002Ffashion\u002F20Cultural.html\" target=\"_blank\">consider it slightly rude if someone calls you on your cell phone\u003C\u002Fa>? Out of the blue? Did you notice that you rather send an e-mail first if you want to call someone who is not your mom or wife just to be sure they will take it? Did you notice that family members are sending each other emojis about dinner being ready from the next room instead of calling out? When did it happen to us that we started to choose the written word over the spoken one – the planned, erasable and choreographed reality instead of the spontaneous back-and-forth? \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Imagine what we might have in the future \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fdigital-health-makes-you-a-superhero\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">with Babel fish earpods\u003C\u002Fa> translating in real time between any languages or AR contact lenses that project additional information about the world. Will we ever need to talk to other people with large language models at our fingertips? After all, generative AI chatbots can easily draft everything we want to communicate in safe, neutral ways.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F05\u002Ftmf_article_366.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51075\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F05\u002Ftmf_article_366.png 1920w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F05\u002Ftmf_article_366-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F05\u002Ftmf_article_366-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F05\u002Ftmf_article_366-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F05\u002Ftmf_article_366-2048x1152.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In her marvelous book, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FReclaiming-Conversation-Power-Talk-Digital\u002Fdp\u002F0143109790\" target=\"_blank\">Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk In A Digital Age\u003C\u002Fa>, Sherry Turkle argues that face-to-face conversation could bring back empathy to our lives, which we let regress and blame on technology. In the future, we might have digital-free spaces where people could practice having face-to-face conversations. Does it creep you out? Do something against this grim possibility! Read the book and talk to people, not only message them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7) Will bioprinted human organ transplants take place on the black market?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Researchers at Boston University used 3D printing technology to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002F3dprintingindustry.com\u002Fnews\u002Fboston-universitys-new-3d-printed-mini-human-heart-beats-on-its-own-208314\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">develop a miniature replica of a human heart\u003C\u002Fa> – one that beats on its own. The device was created using a combination of stem cell-derived human heart cells and micro-scale 3D printed acrylic parts, and it doesn’t rely on external power source, it beats on its own. Researchers hope it can be used to track how the heart grows in an embryo, how heart tissue is affected by diseases, and how effective new medications are in treating said diseases, all without the need for human testing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F03\u002Ftmf_article_249-01.png\" alt=\"3D printing\" class=\"wp-image-33403\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F03\u002Ftmf_article_249-01.png 1920w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F03\u002Ftmf_article_249-01-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F03\u002Ftmf_article_249-01-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F03\u002Ftmf_article_249-01-1536x864.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Organ shortages are a problem all over the world, with millions of people waiting for a good match. In the long run, bioprinting will surely be the solution, substituting the missing donors. It might easily become a future scenario that the first transplantation of a bioprinted human organ might take place through the black market as no ethical bureau will be brave or prepared enough to supervise it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8) Will we edit genes with CRISPR at home?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In 2017, biohacker Josiah Zayner \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newscientist.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmg23631520-100-biohackers-are-using-crispr-on-their-dna-and-we-cant-stop-it\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">gave a lecture\u003C\u002Fa> in San Francisco in which he claimed to be the first person known \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=s5s1uqI5HmY\" target=\"_blank\">to have edited his DNA \u003C\u002Fa>using the CRISPR\u002FCas-9 technology. He insists it is something anyone can do using one of his company’s gene engineering kits. Does it sound scary and far from safe? Yes, it does. As a geneticist, do you ask whether I recommend the technology to anyone? No, I don’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1520\" height=\"855\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Ftmf_article_393_CRISPR_gene_editing.png\" alt=\"gene editing, CRISPR, DNA\" class=\"wp-image-54001\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Ftmf_article_393_CRISPR_gene_editing.png 1520w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Ftmf_article_393_CRISPR_gene_editing-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Ftmf_article_393_CRISPR_gene_editing-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1520px) 100vw, 1520px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, I wouldn’t be surprised if in the future people wanted to modify themselves genetically at home. As the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.scientificamerican.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmail-order-crispr-kits-allow-absolutely-anyone-to-hack-dna\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">possibility of ordering a DIY CRISPR set for home\u003C\u002Fa> is already a reality, I would not be surprised to hear about emergency situations connected to CRISPR in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9) Will completely healthy humans ask for technological body extensions?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In the future, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-worlds-most-famous-real-life-cyborgs\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">brain implants could improve our memory\u003C\u002Fa>. Implanted magnets or \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Frfid-implant-chip\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RFID chips implanted\u003C\u002Fa> in our fingers could replace passwords and keys. Exoskeletons could boost our strength, and augment a whole range of our human capabilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As technological innovations in the field of medicine and healthcare multiply day by day, it will be more and more usual to augment our bodies with the help of machines. It makes us faster, stronger or more sensitive to the environment. I’m convinced the time will come when the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F3-things-transhumanism-can-give-to-healthcare\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">first transhumanist\u003C\u002Fa> will ask a team of doctors to replace a conventional arm with a robotic one as it is much better than the original one. How would the medical community react to that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"6667\" height=\"3750\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Ftmf_article_395.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-54283\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Ftmf_article_395.png 6667w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Ftmf_article_395-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Ftmf_article_395-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Ftmf_article_395-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Ftmf_article_395-2048x1152.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 6667px) 100vw, 6667px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Did I miss something? What are the weirdest notions you imagine about the future of healthcare? Do you see them so scary that we should discuss how to avoid them or do you imagine them as embodiments of another era – now they might be weird, but somehow they will naturally fit the futuristic environment? Let me know what you think on The Medical Futurist’s \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.twitter\u002Fberci\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Twitter\u003C\u002Fa>, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Fmedicalfuturist\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Facebook\u003C\u002Fa> or \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fbertalanmesko\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinkedIn\u003C\u002Fa> channel!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Feepurl.com\u002FZejiT\">\u003Cb>Subscribe To The Medical Futurist℠ Newsletter\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003Cli>News shaping the future of healthcare\u003C\u002Fli>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>Advice on taking charge of your health\u003C\u002Fli>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>Reviews of the latest health technology\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n",{"rendered":882,"protected":16},"\u003Cp>Will you smell the robot in the room? Will surgeons become helpless without robots and AI? Do you need to think about weird questions like these? \u003C\u002Fp>\n",56701,{"_acf_changed":16,"footnotes":64},[5,69],[887,83,888,889,890,84,290,293,891,892,85,609,893,894],206,570,271,847,377,423,450,130,[],[],[472,898,899,755,900,901,299,902],3347,1717,1725,1729,2145,[904,53,109,110,111,112,113,115,116,905,129,906,907,908,130,329,332,909,910,131,634,911,912],"post-17884","tag-digital","tag-crispr","tag-health","tag-technologies","tag-robotics-2","tag-surgery","tag-vr","tag-3d-printing-2",{"id":883,"alt_text":914,"caption":64,"description":64,"media_type":142,"media_details":915,"post":870,"source_url":946},"TMF, robot, human, smell",{"width":916,"height":917,"file":918,"filesize":919,"sizes":920,"image_meta":944},6667,3750,"2024\u002F06\u002Ftmf_article_420.png",1508705,{"medium":921,"large":925,"thumbnail":929,"medium_large":933,"1536x1536":934,"2048x2048":938},{"file":922,"width":150,"height":151,"mime-type":152,"filesize":923,"source_url":924},"tmf_article_420-370x208.png",37153,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F06\u002Ftmf_article_420-370x208.png",{"file":926,"width":156,"height":157,"mime-type":152,"filesize":927,"source_url":928},"tmf_article_420-768x432.png",95482,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F06\u002Ftmf_article_420-768x432.png",{"file":930,"width":161,"height":161,"mime-type":152,"filesize":931,"source_url":932},"tmf_article_420-150x150.png",18384,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F06\u002Ftmf_article_420-150x150.png",{"file":926,"width":156,"height":157,"mime-type":152,"filesize":927,"source_url":928},{"file":935,"width":166,"height":167,"mime-type":152,"filesize":936,"source_url":937},"tmf_article_420-1536x864.png",231702,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F06\u002Ftmf_article_420-1536x864.png",{"file":939,"width":940,"height":941,"mime-type":152,"filesize":942,"source_url":943},"tmf_article_420-2048x1152.png",2048,1152,336365,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F06\u002Ftmf_article_420-2048x1152.png",{"aperture":186,"credit":64,"camera":64,"caption":64,"created_timestamp":186,"copyright":64,"focal_length":186,"iso":186,"shutter_speed":186,"title":64,"orientation":186,"keywords":945},[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F06\u002Ftmf_article_420.png",{"related_posts":16,"related_posts_footer":948,"cta_type":194,"cta_color":64,"subtitle":64,"related_books":952,"key_takeaways":954},[949,950,951],31683,56253,13916,[953,527,662],47427,[955,957,959],{"title":956},"\u003Cp>The future often appears heavily driven by technology, but we must always consider how we, humans will feel living in that era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":958},"\u003Cp>It might seem amusing, but pondering quirky scenarios like smelly-armpit robots can actually bring us closer to the most desirable tomorrow (and day after tomorrow).\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":960},"\u003Cp>Let’s explore why it’s worthwhile to sometimes reflect on weird scenarios from the times spanning ahead of us!\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"yoast_wpseo_title":878,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":962,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":876},"Will you smell the robot in the room? Will surgeons become helpless without robots and AI? Do you need to think about weird questions like these?",{"self":964,"collection":969,"about":971,"author":973,"replies":975,"version-history":978,"predecessor-version":982,"wp:featuredmedia":986,"wp:attachment":989,"wp:term":992,"curies":1003},[965],{"href":966,"targetHints":967},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F17884",{"allow":968},[27],[970],{"href":214},[972],{"href":217},[974],{"embeddable":41,"href":220},[976],{"embeddable":41,"href":977},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=17884",[979],{"count":980,"href":981},37,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F17884\u002Frevisions",[983],{"id":984,"href":985},58625,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F17884\u002Frevisions\u002F58625",[987],{"embeddable":41,"href":988},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F56701",[990],{"href":991},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=17884",[993,995,997,999,1001],{"taxonomy":11,"embeddable":41,"href":994},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=17884",{"taxonomy":242,"embeddable":41,"href":996},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=17884",{"taxonomy":245,"embeddable":41,"href":998},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=17884",{"taxonomy":248,"embeddable":41,"href":1000},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=17884",{"taxonomy":251,"embeddable":41,"href":1002},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=17884",[1004],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},{"id":1006,"date":1007,"date_gmt":1008,"guid":1009,"modified":1007,"modified_gmt":1008,"slug":1011,"status":52,"type":53,"link":1012,"title":1013,"content":1015,"excerpt":1017,"author":61,"featured_media":1019,"comment_status":1020,"ping_status":1020,"sticky":41,"template":64,"format":65,"meta":1021,"categories":1022,"tags":1023,"project_category":1027,"contact_email_category":1028,"yst_prominent_words":1029,"class_list":1031,"better_featured_image":1036,"acf":1065,"yoast_meta":1071,"_links":1073},11151,"2025-01-07T09:37:32","2025-01-07T08:37:32",{"rendered":1010},"http:\u002F\u002Fscienceroll.com\u002F?p=11151","the-worlds-most-famous-real-life-cyborgs","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-worlds-most-famous-real-life-cyborgs",{"rendered":1014},"The World’s Most Famous Real-Life Cyborgs",{"rendered":1016,"protected":16},"\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan data-offset-key=\"1u8l3-0-0\"> In the future of humankind, brain implants could improve our memory. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan class=\"hardreadability\">\u003Cspan data-offset-key=\"1u8l3-1-0\">Implanted magnets or RFID chips implanted in our fingers could replace passwords and keys\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan data-offset-key=\"1u8l3-2-0\">. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan class=\"hardreadability\">\u003Cspan data-offset-key=\"1u8l3-3-0\">Exoskeletons could boost our strength, and augment a whole range of our human capabilities\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan data-offset-key=\"1u8l3-4-0\">. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan class=\"hardreadability\">\u003Cspan data-offset-key=\"1u8l3-5-0\">So, it will never be more important to keep the features that make us human, such as empathy, creativity or the ability for change\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan data-offset-key=\"1u8l3-6-0\">. It is not easy to find the right balance between technology and being human, though.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Here, we discuss the world’s most famous real-life cyborgs who might show us positive examples of how to do it.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The World’s Most Famous Real-Life Cyborgs: Top 9! - The Medical Futurist\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002Fcwt1l0r4C-A?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003C!--more-->\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tiptoeing around humans with machine parts\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>People imagine cyborgs usually as mean creatures combining some human and superhuman features in a robotic body. Movie characters such as the Terminator, Darth Vader, or the Borgs in Star Trek come to mind. But you do not have to go as far as Star Wars to get in contact with cyborg-like features or characteristics. According to the usual definition, a cyborg combines organic and mechanical body parts. Yet, some scientists stretch this understanding. They include people with cochlear implants, cardiac pacemakers or even contact lenses. In a way, it is valid: the human body is augmented with technology, and the two work together to improve human capabilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Astechnological innovations in the field of medicine and healthcare multiply day by day, it will be more and more usual to augment our bodies with the help of machines. It makes us faster, stronger or more sensitive to the environment. This means that the boundaries of “human-ness” are stretched raising serious ethical questions. Here, I introduce you real-life cyborgs, who show us the current boundaries of the coexistence of man and machine in one person. And they might also mark the way how to find a balance between the two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1) \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.harbisson.com\u002F\">\u003Cstrong>Neil Harbisson\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>With an antenna implanted into his head, he looks like a giant ant led from behind by a piece of bread on a stick. Coupled with his light mop haircut he looks like the main character would in a Wes Anderson sci-fi if he ever directed one. Harbisson is actually an artist born with achromatopsia or extreme colorblindness meaning he could only see in black-and-white. At first, he received his specialized electronic eye, his “eyeborg” to be able to render perceived colors as sounds on the musical scale. He is capable of experiencing colors beyond the scope of normal human perception: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fartanddesign\u002F2014\u002Fmay\u002F06\u002Fneil-harbisson-worlds-first-cyborg-artist\">Amy Winehouse is red and pink, while ringtones are green\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Harbisson has been living as a cyborg for more than 10 years already. He believes that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fartanddesign\u002F2014\u002Fmay\u002F06\u002Fneil-harbisson-worlds-first-cyborg-artist\">humans have a duty to use technology to transcend themselves\u003C\u002Fa> and that it will happen in the future. It will start with a third eye on the back of the head or an implanted sensor indicating whether there is a car behind you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"544\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fa-color-blind-artist-neil-harbisson-wears-an-antenna-that-allows-him-to-“hear”-color-through-vibrations-in-his-skull.jpg\" alt=\"Neil Harbisson - Top Cyborgs\" class=\"wp-image-15869\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fa-color-blind-artist-neil-harbisson-wears-an-antenna-that-allows-him-to-“hear”-color-through-vibrations-in-his-skull.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fa-color-blind-artist-neil-harbisson-wears-an-antenna-that-allows-him-to-“hear”-color-through-vibrations-in-his-skull-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fa-color-blind-artist-neil-harbisson-wears-an-antenna-that-allows-him-to-“hear”-color-through-vibrations-in-his-skull-512x320.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fa-color-blind-artist-neil-harbisson-wears-an-antenna-that-allows-him-to-“hear”-color-through-vibrations-in-his-skull-400x250.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2) \u003Cstrong>Dr. Kevin Warwick\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>He has been known as “Captain Cyborg” and teaches at the University of Reading as a cybernetics professor. Warwick has experimented with different electronic implants since 1998 such as installing a microchip in his arm which lets him operate lights, heaters or computers remotely. As dedicated as he is, Warwick also gave an implant to his wife, so that when someone grasped her hand the man was able to experience the same sensation in his. It is jaw-dropping and awkwardly scary at the same time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>He is the founder of Project Cyborg using himself as the guinea pig on a mission to become the world’s most complete cyborg. Beyond his work on himself, he is involved in AI research. He faced serious criticism in 2014 over claims that \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.telegraph.co.uk\u002Fnews\u002Fscience\u002Fscience-news\u002F10888828\u002FCaptain-Cyborg-the-man-behind-the-controversial-Turing-Test-claims.html\">the “supercomputer” called Eugene Goostman passed the “milestone” Turing-test for Artificial Intelligence\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"579\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fkevin-warwick.jpg\" alt=\"Kevin Warwick - Top Cyborgs\" class=\"wp-image-15870\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fkevin-warwick.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fkevin-warwick-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fkevin-warwick-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fkevin-warwick-375x250.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3) \u003Cstrong>Jesse Sullivan\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Sullivan worked as an electrical linesman when in May 2001, he suffered a life-threatening accident: he was electrocuted so severely that both of his arms needed to be amputated. This, however, led to him to become the world’s first “Bionic Man”. The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago offered him to replace his arms with robotic prosthetics, which opportunity he gladly took. He was fitted with a bionic limb connected through a nerve-muscle grafting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>He has control over his limb with his mind: \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.wired.co.uk\u002Farticle\u002Fcyborgs\">when he thinks about lifting an arm\u003C\u002Fa>, for example, certain muscles in his chest contract instead of muscles in his original arm, and the prosthetic replacement interprets this contraction as an instruction to move in a certain way. Moreover, he can also feel temperature as well as how much pressure his grip applies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Jesse Sullivan Operates Bionic Arm with his Brain (silent) | Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FddInW6sm7JE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4) \u003Cstrong>Nigel Ackland\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>He worked as a precious metals smelter until his accident at his workplace involving an industrial blender. This led to a severe crush injury of his right forearm. He underwent six months of operations and infections before deciding to have a below elbow amputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Over the years, he tried several prosthetic types, but finally, he received a bebionic3 hand. With its help, he can independently move to grip even delicate objects. He controls the arm through muscle movements in his remaining forearm. The range of movement is truly extraordinary. He can independently move each of his five fingers to grip delicate objects, or even pour a liquid into a glass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"544\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fnigal-ackland.jpg\" alt=\"Nigal Ackland - Top Cyborgs\" class=\"wp-image-15871\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fnigal-ackland.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fnigal-ackland-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fnigal-ackland-512x320.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fnigal-ackland-400x250.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5) \u003Cstrong>Jerry Jalava\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The Finnish programmer had a terrible motorcycle accident when he lost his left ring finger. \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.spiegel.de\u002Fnetzwelt\u002Fweb\u002Fprothese-finne-ersetzt-finger-durch-usb-stick-a-613632.html\">It was just a week after he bought his new motorbike that he accidentally hit a deer\u003C\u002Fa>. Right after it happened, he lit a cigarette when he realized that he misses the upper half of his finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Then he decided against a traditional prosthesis and rather went for something “useful”: a 2GB USB port was embedded into his prosthetic. It doesn’t upload any information directly into his brain though. He is the perfect example of how you don’t need to be a robotics mastermind to become a cyborg…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"487\" height=\"365\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fjerry-javala_usb-stick-instead-of-finger.jpg\" alt=\"Top Cyborgs\" class=\"wp-image-15872\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fjerry-javala_usb-stick-instead-of-finger.jpg 487w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fjerry-javala_usb-stick-instead-of-finger-334x250.jpg 334w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 487px) 100vw, 487px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6) \u003Cstrong>Cameron Clapp\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Until his life-changing accident, Cameron lived the life of the “California teens”: he loved to surf, skateboard and hang with friends. He was 15 when he wandered over to some railroad tracks near their house and passed out after \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.hangerclinic.com\u002Fempowered-stories\u002FPages\u002FCameron-Clapp.aspx\">drinking with his brother moved by the 9\u002F11 tragedy what happened around that time\u003C\u002Fa>. When a train passed, he, unfortunately, lost both of his legs plus an arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>He got fitted with a couple of prosthetic legs controlled by his brain with the help of a microprocessor. Since then, he has become an athlete and an amputee activist. His advice to struggling patients? “Surround yourself with good people… good doctors, therapists, family, and friends. Set reachable goals, work hard and maintain a good attitude.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"618\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fcameron-clapp.jpg\" alt=\"Cameron Clapp - Top Cyborgs\" class=\"wp-image-15873\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fcameron-clapp.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fcameron-clapp-768x546.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fcameron-clapp-512x364.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fcameron-clapp-352x250.jpg 352w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7) \u003Cstrong>Professor Steve Mann\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The Canadian tech-crazy professor designed a headset that is outfitted with a number of small computers and through it, he can record and play video and audio. He was one of the, if not the first, cyborgs in the world. Mann definitely \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fcyborganthropology.com\u002FSteve_Mann\">experimented first with wearable computing in high school in the 70s\u003C\u002Fa>. At MIT he literally bristled with equipment, wearing 80 pounds of computing equipment to class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Mann was allegedly also the victim of the \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fio9.gizmodo.com\u002F5926587\u002Fwhat-may-be-the-worlds-first-cybernetic-hate-crime-unfolds-in-french-mcdonalds\">world’s “first cybernetic hate crime”\u003C\u002Fa> in 2012: he was at a McDonald’s restaurant in Paris with his family when three different McDonald’s employees attempted to forcibly remove his “Digital Eye Glass” from his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"489\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fsteve-mann.jpg\" alt=\"Steve Mann - Top Cyborgs\" class=\"wp-image-15874\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fsteve-mann.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fsteve-mann-370x208.jpg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fsteve-mann-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fsteve-mann-512x288.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fsteve-mann-444x250.jpg 444w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8) \u003Cstrong>Claudia Mitchell\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Mitchell is the first woman to have a bionic arm and just as in the majority of the listed cases, her transformation into a cyborg life was also due to an accident. Although she spent four years in the Marine Corps she did not lose her arm during military service but in a motorcycle accident. She lost her left arm completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>She told several newspapers that she used to peel bananas using both feet and one hand before she received her bionic arm. The robotic limb comes from the \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.ric.org\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago\u003C\u002Fa> just as in the case of Jesse Sullivan and was developed for $3 million. She \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.washingtonpost.com\u002Fwp-dyn\u002Fcontent\u002Farticle\u002F2006\u002F09\u002F13\u002FAR2006091302271.html\">cried when she first peeled a banana one-handed\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"562\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fbionic-woman-demonstrates-thought-controlled-prostheses.jpg\" alt=\"Top Cyborgs\" class=\"wp-image-15876\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fbionic-woman-demonstrates-thought-controlled-prostheses.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fbionic-woman-demonstrates-thought-controlled-prostheses-768x496.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fbionic-woman-demonstrates-thought-controlled-prostheses-512x331.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fbionic-woman-demonstrates-thought-controlled-prostheses-387x250.jpg 387w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9) \u003Cstrong>Stelios Arcadio\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>He is also known as Stelarc. He is a performance artist who believes that the human body is obsolete. To prove this, he has had an artificially-created ear surgically attached to his left arm. In another show, he hooked up electrodes to his body to allow people to control his muscles through the Web.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>He has his particular views how humans should look at technology and the symbiosis of the two. In an \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.techradar.com\u002Fnews\u002Fworld-of-tech\u002Fmeet-the-real-life-human-cyborgs-600543\">interview\u003C\u002Fa>, he said that “we shouldn’t have a Frankensteinian fear of incorporating technology into the body, and we shouldn’t consider our relationship to technology in a Faustian way – that we’re somehow selling our soul because we’re using these forbidden energies. My attitude is that technology is, and always has been, an appendage of the body.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"653\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fstelarc.jpg\" alt=\"Stelarc - Top Cyborgs\" class=\"wp-image-15878\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fstelarc.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fstelarc-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fstelarc-512x384.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Fstelarc-333x250.jpg 333w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>They are the world’s most famous real-life cyborgs. Did I miss anyone? Reach out to me on \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftwitter.com\u002FBerci\">Twitter\u003C\u002Fa> or \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Fmedicalfuturist\u002F?fref=ts\">Facebook\u003C\u002Fa>!\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":1018,"protected":16},"\u003Cp> In the future of humankind, brain implants could improve our memory. Implanted magnets or RFID chips implanted in our fingers could replace passwords and keys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",13626,"open",{"_acf_changed":16,"footnotes":64},[5,274],[83,889,1024,891,85,1025,1026,282],355,441,517,[],[],[898,622,1030],2329,[1032,53,109,110,111,112,113,115,314,129,907,1033,909,131,1034,1035,321],"post-11151","tag-personalized-medicine","tag-video","tag-gc1",{"id":1019,"alt_text":1037,"caption":64,"description":64,"media_type":142,"media_details":1038,"post":1006,"source_url":1064},"Real life cyborgs",{"width":787,"height":1039,"file":1040,"sizes":1041,"image_meta":1062},357,"2015\u002F05\u002Freal-life-cyborgs-cover-photo.jpg",{"medium":1042,"large":1045,"thumbnail":1049,"medium_large":1052,"large_old_512x210":1053,"medium_old_458x188":1057},{"file":1043,"width":150,"height":151,"mime-type":343,"source_url":1044},"real-life-cyborgs-cover-photo-370x208.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Freal-life-cyborgs-cover-photo-370x208.jpg",{"file":1046,"width":156,"height":1047,"mime-type":343,"source_url":1048},"real-life-cyborgs-cover-photo-768x315.jpg",315,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Freal-life-cyborgs-cover-photo-768x315.jpg",{"file":1050,"width":161,"height":161,"mime-type":343,"source_url":1051},"real-life-cyborgs-cover-photo-150x150.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Freal-life-cyborgs-cover-photo-150x150.jpg",{"file":1046,"width":156,"height":1047,"mime-type":343,"source_url":1048},{"file":1054,"width":171,"height":1055,"mime-type":343,"source_url":1056},"real-life-cyborgs-cover-photo-512x210.jpg",210,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Freal-life-cyborgs-cover-photo-512x210.jpg",{"file":1058,"width":1059,"height":1060,"mime-type":343,"source_url":1061},"real-life-cyborgs-cover-photo-458x188.jpg",458,188,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Freal-life-cyborgs-cover-photo-458x188.jpg",{"aperture":186,"credit":64,"camera":64,"caption":64,"created_timestamp":186,"copyright":64,"focal_length":186,"iso":186,"shutter_speed":186,"title":64,"orientation":186,"keywords":1063},[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F05\u002Freal-life-cyborgs-cover-photo.jpg",{"related_posts":16,"related_posts_footer":16,"cta_type":64,"cta_color":64,"subtitle":64,"related_books":16,"key_takeaways":1066},[1067,1069],{"title":1068},"\u003Cp>People imagine cyborgs usually as mean creatures combining some human and superhuman features in a robotic body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":1070},"\u003Cp>We discuss the world’s most famous real-life cyborgs who might show us positive examples of how to do it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"yoast_wpseo_title":1014,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":1072,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":1012},"Let’s see real-life cyborgs who can show us whether it is possible to find a balance between using technologies with our bodies and remaining human beings.",{"self":1074,"collection":1079,"about":1081,"author":1083,"replies":1085,"version-history":1088,"predecessor-version":1092,"wp:featuredmedia":1096,"wp:attachment":1099,"wp:term":1102,"curies":1113},[1075],{"href":1076,"targetHints":1077},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F11151",{"allow":1078},[27],[1080],{"href":214},[1082],{"href":217},[1084],{"embeddable":41,"href":220},[1086],{"embeddable":41,"href":1087},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=11151",[1089],{"count":1090,"href":1091},18,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F11151\u002Frevisions",[1093],{"id":1094,"href":1095},58347,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F11151\u002Frevisions\u002F58347",[1097],{"embeddable":41,"href":1098},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F13626",[1100],{"href":1101},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=11151",[1103,1105,1107,1109,1111],{"taxonomy":11,"embeddable":41,"href":1104},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=11151",{"taxonomy":242,"embeddable":41,"href":1106},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=11151",{"taxonomy":245,"embeddable":41,"href":1108},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=11151",{"taxonomy":248,"embeddable":41,"href":1110},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=11151",{"taxonomy":251,"embeddable":41,"href":1112},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=11151",[1114],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},{"id":1116,"date":1117,"date_gmt":1118,"guid":1119,"modified":1121,"modified_gmt":1122,"slug":1123,"status":52,"type":53,"link":1124,"title":1125,"content":1127,"excerpt":1129,"author":61,"featured_media":1131,"comment_status":63,"ping_status":63,"sticky":41,"template":64,"format":65,"meta":1132,"categories":1133,"tags":1142,"project_category":1148,"contact_email_category":1149,"yst_prominent_words":1150,"class_list":1152,"better_featured_image":1167,"acf":1188,"yoast_meta":1202,"_links":1204},32197,"2023-11-21T10:00:00","2023-11-21T09:00:00",{"rendered":1120},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_id=32197&_wpnonce=33632050e7&status=auto-draft&type=post","2023-11-23T11:57:25","2023-11-23T10:57:25","superhumans","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fsuperhumans",{"rendered":1126},"Will We All Have To Become Biologically Enhanced Superhumans?",{"rendered":1128,"protected":16},"\n\u003Cp>Okay, hands up who can tell who’s the most famous biologically enhanced superhuman in the world? True, it’s a quite close call between Captain America and The Incredible Hulk (sorry Spidey, you’re not even close). But are human-invented superhumans just a thing of a \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FStan_Lee\" target=\"_blank\">Stan Lee comic\u003C\u002Fa>, or is it an actual scientific idea from a real laboratory?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As a matter of fact, enhancing human capabilities has been on the minds of people for ages, but it has come a long way from ancient training methods to exoskeletons. Enhancing our abilities, be it permanently or temporarily is a tempting but risky matter. Will it be possible in the not-too-far future to gear up superhuman powers so we don’t lag behind the others? Let’s dive in and see how (and if) we can be our better selves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"489\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F09\u002FSuperhero.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21851\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F09\u002FSuperhero.png 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F09\u002FSuperhero-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F09\u002FSuperhero-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F09\u002FSuperhero-512x288.png 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Superhuman – with the help of technology\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A brief history of human enhancement\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>First, we need to ask what ‘enhancement’ exactly is. Throughout history, the enhancement of humans by various tools from physical addendums (remember \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.primaryancientgreeks.com\u002Fcontent\u002Fdaidalos-ikaros\" target=\"_blank\">Icaros\u003C\u002Fa>?) to drugs (from ferocious Viking “\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.historyextra.com\u002Fperiod\u002Fviking\u002Fthe-truth-about-viking-berserkers\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">berserkers\u003C\u002Fa>” to the Nazi army or East German swimmers – or many of the cyclists still today), or even love (just google ‘\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FSacred_Band_of_Thebes\" target=\"_blank\">Sacred Band of Thebes\u003C\u002Fa>’) have been on the minds of leaders, military chiefs or inventors alike. Or \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=bxiKqA-u8y4&ab_channel=TheSchoolofLife\" target=\"_blank\">philosophers\u003C\u002Fa>, as a matter of fact. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The urge to live forever has not passed with our predecessors, let’s take a look at Bryan Johnson’s Blueprint project with its straightforward goal: \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fprotocol.bryanjohnson.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">don’t die\u003C\u002Fa>. Granted, most of us don’t have 30 doctors and \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bloomberg.com\u002Fnews\u002Ffeatures\u002F2023-01-25\u002Fanti-aging-techniques-taken-to-extreme-by-bryan-johnson?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTY3NDc1MjE5MiwiZXhwIjoxNjc1MzU2OTkyLCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJSUDFGV0xEV1JHRzQwMSIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJFNUUzM0M0NzlCOTA0MjU2OTRGRTU1NTg5OTQ4N0FBOSJ9.cWlkQxMxDlCY3A2nkIt6Fy2fciMLM0nsY8uS2T7Vhug&sref=nPlhheXZ\" target=\"_blank\">millions of dollars\u003C\u002Fa> to spend on enhancing ourselves in all possible ways. On top of that, I feel a slight contrast between his efforts and the initiative to sell extra virgin olive oil as the omnipotent elixir to the less fortunate. But we can’t deny he has gone the extra mile in every possible way to make the most of what money and science offer today and I truly appreciate the dedication here. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, biological enhancement is a much deeper issue.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The dawn of digital health brought an era of technological advancements and within, the recreation of the human body or body parts or -functions came within reach. It started as a restoration of a certain human function, like \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.asrs.org\u002Fretina-times\u002Fdetails\u002F131\u002Ffda-approves-world-first-artificial-retina\" target=\"_blank\">eyesight\u003C\u002Fa> or \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.uclhospitals.brc.nihr.ac.uk\u002Fresearch\u002Fprogrammes\u002Fdeafness-hearing-problems\" target=\"_blank\">hearing\u003C\u002Fa>, or the replacement of a missing limb. Technologies like CRISPR gene editing, nanotechnology and even the revolution of wearables and sensors brought new possibilities in human enhancement, and although longevity is still far away for many, living longer and possibly healthier is a de facto case for the human race. (That is, if we survive the climate catastrophe we created.) \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The science of it also has a philosophical backing called \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FTranshumanism\" target=\"_blank\">transhumanism\u003C\u002Fa>; a movement that “\u003Cem>advocates the enhancement of the human condition by developing and making widely available sophisticated technologies that can greatly enhance longevity and cognition.\u003C\u002Fem>” The concept states that humankind will evolve into a new intelligent species. That is yet to be seen, however: current affairs indicate no such evolution. But \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fnews\u002Fuk-scotland-49893869\" target=\"_blank\">transhumanists\u003C\u002Fa> live and\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.forbes.com\u002Fsites\u002Fcalumchace\u002F2023\u002F02\u002F01\u002Fpioneering-transhumanism-a-conversation-with-natasha-vita-more\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"> strive among us\u003C\u002Fa>. And sometimes episodes of the series \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-future-of-our-brains-health-in-black-mirror\" target=\"_blank\">Black Mirror\u003C\u002Fa> have more links to reality than we wish. To know more, read our \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fzoltan-istvan-and-the-jesus-singularity\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">in-depth interview\u003C\u002Fa> with one of the world’s most influential transhumanists, Zoltan Istvan!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"489\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F11\u002F039_blackmirror-1.png\" alt=\"Black Mirror\" class=\"wp-image-22306\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F11\u002F039_blackmirror-1.png 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F11\u002F039_blackmirror-1-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F11\u002F039_blackmirror-1-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F11\u002F039_blackmirror-1-512x288.png 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>There is a variety of fields where a superhuman feature could potentially be created. And that will not be the result of a single discipline but of the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fobamawhitehouse.archives.gov\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002Fmicrosites\u002Fostp\u002Fbioecon-%28%23%20023SUPP%29%20NSF-NBIC.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">convergence\u003C\u002Fa> of multiple scientific fields. Currently, these have a restorative focus rather than a developmental one, although each can evolve towards that in the future. \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ffrom-human-to-cyborg\" target=\"_blank\">In this article\u003C\u002Fa>, we split the possible directions into 3 main categories:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Col class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Removable cyborg extensions\u003C\u002Fstrong> – the tools enhancing the individual can easily be put away at the end of use\u003C\u002Fli>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Cyborg-humans\u003C\u002Fstrong> – technologies causing lasting, but not irreversible transformation like prosthetic limbs, digital tattoos and bionic implants\u003C\u002Fli>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Technologies changing humans forever\u003C\u002Fstrong> – genetic editing (such as CRISPR) is the one that raises the most ethical and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-most-pressing-issues-in-bioethics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">moral questions\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Fol>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>This time we categorize the possibilities for enhancements horizontally and have a look at 5 fields where human enhancements would be possible.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Brainpower\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>A microchip in the brain that will enhance our cognitive functions by a zillion – how we all could use such a thing during exams! The concept was first raised back in 1968 by architect Nicholas Negroponte at MIT, and it has come a long way since. Hacking the human brain is more difficult than we could imagine and cannot be solved with a single microchip implant. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>But Elon Musk’s \u003Cem>other\u003C\u002Fem> company, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fneuralink.com\u002Fapproach\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Neuralink\u003C\u002Fa> aims to do just that. The idea is to have a chip implanted in one’s brain; that neural implant will let you control a computer or mobile device anywhere you go. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since Musk \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=CLUWDLKAF1M\" target=\"_blank\">presented the pigs with the implants\u003C\u002Fa> and in 2023 the company is \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2023\u002F9\u002F19\u002F23880861\u002Fneuralink-human-clinical-trial-n1-implant\" target=\"_blank\">recruiting human candidates\u003C\u002Fa> with quadriplegia for a six-year clinical trial. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>But seeing what Elon Musk did to that poor pig, it did not at all look like the future. We at The Medical Futurist often say that before the digital health transformation, a cultural shift is inevitable. But having a neural implant somehow gives me the creeps – even if it could give me superpowers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Brain-computer interface\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>With less media hype, Synchron, a company that has developed a minimally invasive brain-computer interface is further along the way. Their implant actually has been working in at least two patients for quite a long time and has now enrolled six patients with severe quadriparesis. The current trial runs in three clinical trial sites in the US. The Synchron implant does not require open brain surgery as it is implanted in the blood vessel on the surface of the motor cortex of the brain via the jugular vein, through a minimally-invasive endovascular procedure. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"A Brain Implant That Turns Your Thoughts Into Text | Tom Oxley | TED\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002F7Fiaew7nDmE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Once implanted, it is designed to detect and wirelessly transmit motor intent out of the brain, intended to restore the capability for severely paralysed patients to control personal devices with hands-free point-and-click.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Researchers have been investigating the possibilities of brain-computer interfaces or BCIs for quite a while now. At first, these were thought to be tools on one hand to provide constant monitoring of the brain’s electrical activity; this could support a wide range of applications from monitoring epilepsy or ADHD to pain management and sleep assessment. On the other hand, the concept was thought to be a \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fhbr.org\u002F2020\u002F10\u002Fwhat-brain-computer-interfaces-could-mean-for-the-future-of-work\" target=\"_blank\">solution for paralysed people\u003C\u002Fa> to move and control things around them with only thoughts… Taking it onto the next level, such an implant could also be used as an external hard drive for the mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Enhancing cognitive performance would be able to change the lives of millions suffering from memory loss, and neurological or psychological disorders. Restorative processes like stroke rehabilitation would also gain from the technology. Or, as a matter of fact, these can help reduce the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.frontiersin.org\u002Farticles\u002F10.3389\u002Ffnins.2020.00692\u002Ffull\" target=\"_blank\">cognitive effects of ageing\u003C\u002Fa>. No wonder there are many studies that focus on the possibilities such technology can provide \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002Fpmc\u002Farticles\u002FPMC7339951\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">for seniors\u003C\u002Fa>. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Muscle strength and robotic exoskeletons\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>There is a huge cultural acceptance issue with technological solutions for restoration vs. tech for boosting performance. According to a \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogs.scientificamerican.com\u002Fobservations\u002Fwhat-americans-think-of-human-enhancement-technologies\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">study on the matter\u003C\u002Fa>, the public almost unanimously agrees with technological enhancement if it’s used for restorative purposes: 95% support physical restorative applications, and 88% support cognitive restorative applications. But when it comes to the enhancement of human capabilities for the reason of boosting performance – well, that’s a big no-no, according to the study. Only 35% of respondents agree with the concept.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Paralysed Man Completes London Marathon 2018\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FaB0pfAL6MdU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Robotic exoskeletons are also becoming more and more common. \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.sciencedirect.com\u002Ftopics\u002Fengineering\u002Fexoskeleton-robotics\" target=\"_blank\">Paralyzed\u003C\u002Fa> people or those who lost a limb have now the chance to move again with such technological advancements. Certain industries like \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fdozr.com\u002Fblog\u002Fconstruction-exoskeletons\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">construction\u003C\u002Fa> also make use of the extra power robotics can give. The next step will be the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-future-of-prosthetics-depends-on-a-i\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">AI-powered prosthesis\u003C\u002Fa>; or ones that can supplement healthy individuals with additional limbs. Not to mention a future where we \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002FWTdfTupF7fs\" target=\"_blank\">share bodies and senses\u003C\u002Fa> with machines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>But what are advanced technologies worth if only the wealthiest can afford them? That has been the case with many exoskeletons therefore it’s so great to see \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.therobotreport.com\u002Frewalk-robotics-announces-solidified-medicare-coverage-for-personal-exoskeleton\u002F\">more and more covered by health insurance\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In 2023 October ReWalk Robotics, Inc. announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a rule benefitting its exoskeleton technology. “Earlier this year, CMS released a proposal aiming to establish new regulatory definition of “brace.” Adding the definition of brace would expedite coverage and payment for newer technology and powered devices, according to CMS. This potentially enables faster access to the newer technologies, like those made by ReWalk and Myomo as well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The new CMS proposal includes personal exoskeletons in the Medicare benefit category for braces meaning that benefits would extend to exoskeletons which allow paralyzed patients to stand and walk. This follows a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.therobotreport.com\u002Fexoskeletons-qualify-for-direct-disability-compensation-in-germany\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">similar announcement from Germany\u003C\u002Fa> from 2022. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Enhancing the senses\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>What if technology could aid humans to have better hearing than bats? What if we could filter out the smell of urban decay and only experience pleasant odours? Or what if implants could let us see microscopic objects? Or special features, such as the heat map of an abandoned terrain? These questions led us to list how technology could help augment human senses in our previous article. One exciting example of this was the AI-supported hearing aid presented at the 2021 CES. This device features an onboard deep neural network that gives people with hearing loss a better experience. And there are many more examples of that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Supercharging human senses with \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.medgadget.com\u002F2023\u002F11\u002Fglasses-provide-audible-prompts-for-blind-wearers.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">technology for the blind\u003C\u002Fa> or the deaf are entirely feasible enhancements. When a person loses a sense, the area of the brain that was responsible for handling that sensory information does not go unused. The \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.jneurosci.org\u002Fcontent\u002F32\u002F28\u002F9626.abstract?sid=554f9c9c-ec7e-4c33-87a0-3f2416e52e24\" target=\"_blank\">brain rewires itself\u003C\u002Fa> and uses that area to process other senses. This is \u003Cem>neuroplasticity\u003C\u002Fem>, the ability of the brain to change with experience. Researchers “just” need to find out how to use this natural superpower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Temporary or long-term sensory enhancements are also not limited to the ones with certain disabilities: the technology goes beyond that. In the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Flink.springer.com\u002Freferenceworkentry\u002F10.1007%2F978-94-007-4707-4_106\" target=\"_blank\">Handbook of Neuroethics\u003C\u002Fa>, the authors explain that the enhancement tools “\u003Cem>could be implemented in mainly two ways: either via the application of digital technology or by genetic engineering of the human body\u003C\u002Fem>.” \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ericsson.com\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002F2018\u002F7\u002Faugmented-reality-gives-us-super-human-abilities-and-a-sixth-sense\" target=\"_blank\">Augmented reality\u003C\u002Fa> just takes this realm a step further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"One-minute Challenge: Augmented Reality - The Medical Futurist\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FxUaBrgsHkPs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Augmented reality is not only \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Faugmented-reality-in-healthcare-will-be-revolutionary\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">revolutionary\u003C\u002Fa> but can also give us real superpowers. It is one of the most promising digital health technologies, from \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.timesofisrael.com\u002Fin-global-first-shaare-zedek-spine-surgeon-combines-augmented-reality-with-robotics\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">operations\u003C\u002Fa> to providing \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002FWg6jN-audEM\" target=\"_blank\">information\u003C\u002Fa> and \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002FPzPKdlFbvYM\" target=\"_blank\">education\u003C\u002Fa>. Heightened capabilities of our vision by AR, VR, digital contact lenses or even retina chips have been bugging the minds of researchers for the past decade. And although many of the concepts \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ffrom-theranos-to-google-glass-the-biggest-flops-in-digital-health\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">have failed\u003C\u002Fa> (remember Google’s glass or glucose-level measuring contact lenses?), these flops don’t necessarily mean the concepts are wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Genetic engineering – a brave new world?\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>A lot of research is underway in gene therapies. CRISPR editing was a huge step in this direction. While its original vision, to serve as a tool offering \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.technologyreview.com\u002F2023\u002F03\u002F07\u002F1069475\u002Fforget-designer-babies-heres-how-crispr-is-really-changing-lives\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">gene therapies for patients\u003C\u002Fa> is noble and just, there is a significant, primarily moral and ethical resistance against the method. For example, researchers in Oxford’s Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.ox.ac.uk\u002Fresearch\u002Fresearch-impact\u002Frestoring-sight-gene-therapy\" target=\"_blank\">help restore eyesight\u003C\u002Fa> to patients with genetic vision defects with gene therapy, which seems acceptable as a method; while genetic engineering \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fnuffieldbioethics.org\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">on an embryo-level\u003C\u002Fa> is more of a moral issue than a scientific one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While CRISPR therapies are still considered experimental, and none have been approved, and some even have been unsuccessful, we’ve also seen \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.technologyreview.com\u002F2023\u002F03\u002F10\u002F1069619\u002Fmore-than-200-people-treated-with-experimental-crispr-therapies\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">some success stories\u003C\u002Fa> and several \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.technologyreview.com\u002F2023\u002F10\u002F25\u002F1082306\u002Fgene-editing-crispr-hiv-experiment\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">creepier announcements\u003C\u002Fa>. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Editing DNA can become a powerful tool in the diagnosis and the treatment of diseases. The European Union is trying to add the ethical component on the first level of its scientific programme in the genetic engineering leg of its human enhancement project. \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsienna-project.eu\u002Fgenomics\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Sienna\u003C\u002Fa>, and other such organisations and projects also raise and include ethical issues in their projects. However, with such technologies becoming more available, cases like the creation of first \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wsj.com\u002Farticles\u002Fhow-a-chinese-scientist-broke-the-rules-to-create-the-first-gene-edited-babies-11557506697\" target=\"_blank\">designer babies in China\u003C\u002Fa> appear. After this scandal, the WHO launched a global registry to track research on human genome editing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Transhumanists predict that with the convergence of new technologies in science, we could create healthier, smarter and stronger humans. They think it’s our duty to evolve into something beyond ourselves. But as much as I love science, my idea of a happier life does not begin with being faster and stronger. It begins with the core values of humankind: empathy, tolerance and kindness. And if we can cure something or someone with the help of science, we should do that. But my brave new world shall not take place in \u003Cem>Gattaca\u003C\u002Fem>. \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Read more about these concepts in my book \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FMy-Health-Revolutionary-Technologies-Healthier\u002Fdp\u002F6158026107\" target=\"_blank\">My Health Upgraded\u003C\u002Fa>, elaborating on where health care and medicine is heading in the future. \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh5>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Ca class=\"img\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FMy-Health-Revolutionary-Technologies-Healthier\u002Fdp\u002F6158026107\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F05\u002Flive-better-with-technology-myhealthupgraded-promo-768x350.png\" alt=\"Live better using technology - Buy My Health Upgraded\" class=\"wp-image-13211\"\u002F\u003C\u002Fa srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F05\u002Flive-better-with-technology-myhealthupgraded-promo-768x350.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F05\u002Flive-better-with-technology-myhealthupgraded-promo-512x233.png 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F05\u002Flive-better-with-technology-myhealthupgraded-promo.png 870w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Get it on Amazon\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":1130,"protected":16},"\u003Cp>Enhancing human capabilities has been on the mind of people for ages, but superhumans came a long way from ancient training methods to exoskeletons. \u003C\u002Fp>\n",32183,{"_acf_changed":16,"footnotes":64},[1134,68,1135,5,444,274,1136,1137,275,1138,1139,1140,171,601,1141],6261,493,798,491,496,800,516,514,[1143,1144,1145,1146,1147],1120,1332,6525,231,639,[750,92],[],[898,102,104,105,622,616,463,1030,1151],2541,[1153,53,109,110,111,112,113,1154,114,1155,115,478,314,1156,1157,315,1158,1159,1160,626,627,1161,1162,1163,1164,1165,1166,783,137],"post-32197","category-forecast","category-augmented-reality","category-digital-health-research","category-empowered-patients","category-health-sensors-trackers","category-healthcare-policy","category-medical-education","category-virtual-reality","tag-bci","tag-transhumanism","tag-neuralink","tag-exoskeleton","tag-brain-computer-interface",{"id":1131,"alt_text":64,"caption":64,"description":1168,"media_type":142,"media_details":1169,"post":1186,"source_url":1187},"Becoming superhuman ",{"width":144,"height":145,"file":1170,"sizes":1171,"image_meta":1185},"2021\u002F01\u002Ftmf_article_236-01.png",{"medium":1172,"large":1175,"thumbnail":1178,"medium_large":1181,"1536x1536":1182},{"file":1173,"width":177,"height":178,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1174},"tmf_article_236-01-370x208.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F01\u002Ftmf_article_236-01-370x208.png",{"file":1176,"width":180,"height":181,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1177},"tmf_article_236-01-768x432.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F01\u002Ftmf_article_236-01-768x432.png",{"file":1179,"width":175,"height":175,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1180},"tmf_article_236-01-150x150.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F01\u002Ftmf_article_236-01-150x150.png",{"file":1176,"width":180,"height":181,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1177},{"file":1183,"width":510,"height":511,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1184},"tmf_article_236-01-1536x864.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F01\u002Ftmf_article_236-01-1536x864.png",{"aperture":186,"credit":64,"camera":64,"caption":64,"created_timestamp":186,"copyright":64,"focal_length":186,"iso":186,"shutter_speed":186,"title":64,"orientation":186},32095,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F01\u002Ftmf_article_236-01.png",{"cta_type":194,"cta_color":64,"subtitle":64,"related_posts_footer":1189,"related_posts":16,"related_books":1193,"key_takeaways":1195},[1190,1191,1192],53187,52933,53089,[526,815,1194],24761,[1196,1198,1200],{"title":1197},"\u003Cp>Human enhancement has evolved from ancient methods to advanced technologies like exoskeletons and genetic editing, blurring the lines between science fiction and reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":1199},"\u003Cp>Current advancements in human enhancement, such as brain-computer interfaces and sensory augmentation, promise to revolutionize not just health but everyday human capabilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":1201},"\u003Cp>The ethical and philosophical considerations of human enhancement, especially in transhumanism, highlight the need to balance technological progress with fundamental human values and moral.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"yoast_wpseo_title":1126,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":1203,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":1124},"Enhancing human capabilities has been on the mind of people for ages, but superhumans came a long way from ancient training methods to exoskeletons.",{"self":1205,"collection":1210,"about":1212,"author":1214,"replies":1216,"version-history":1219,"predecessor-version":1223,"wp:featuredmedia":1227,"wp:attachment":1230,"wp:term":1233,"curies":1244},[1206],{"href":1207,"targetHints":1208},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F32197",{"allow":1209},[27],[1211],{"href":214},[1213],{"href":217},[1215],{"embeddable":41,"href":220},[1217],{"embeddable":41,"href":1218},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=32197",[1220],{"count":1221,"href":1222},45,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F32197\u002Frevisions",[1224],{"id":1225,"href":1226},53721,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F32197\u002Frevisions\u002F53721",[1228],{"embeddable":41,"href":1229},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F32183",[1231],{"href":1232},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=32197",[1234,1236,1238,1240,1242],{"taxonomy":11,"embeddable":41,"href":1235},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=32197",{"taxonomy":242,"embeddable":41,"href":1237},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=32197",{"taxonomy":245,"embeddable":41,"href":1239},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=32197",{"taxonomy":248,"embeddable":41,"href":1241},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=32197",{"taxonomy":251,"embeddable":41,"href":1243},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=32197",[1245],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},{"id":1247,"date":1248,"date_gmt":1249,"guid":1250,"modified":1252,"modified_gmt":1253,"slug":1254,"status":52,"type":53,"link":1255,"title":1256,"content":1258,"excerpt":1260,"author":400,"featured_media":1262,"comment_status":63,"ping_status":63,"sticky":41,"template":64,"format":65,"meta":1263,"categories":1264,"tags":1267,"project_category":1277,"contact_email_category":1279,"yst_prominent_words":1280,"class_list":1286,"better_featured_image":1301,"acf":1330,"yoast_meta":1337,"_links":1340},37637,"2023-02-16T10:00:00","2023-02-16T09:00:00",{"rendered":1251},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_id=37637&_wpnonce=06e614f716&status=auto-draft&type=post","2023-02-14T15:42:28","2023-02-14T14:42:28","good-digital-health-company","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fgood-digital-health-company",{"rendered":1257},"5 Best Practices To Build A Future-Ready Digital Health Company",{"rendered":1259,"protected":16},"\n\u003Cp>Transparent communication, clinically-validated technologies, and addressing real-life clinical needs might sound like no-brainer components to a digital health company since they are working in the healthcare sector. It is also a rapidly expanding one where investments were heavily channelled during the pandemic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, some estimate that \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.entrepreneur.com\u002Farticle\u002F307595\" target=\"_blank\">90% of digital health startups\u003C\u002Fa> will go bust or be ‘\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cooleygo.com\u002Facqui-hire-basics\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">acqui-hired\u003C\u002Fa>’ within a few years of being founded. If digital health represents the future of medicine and healthcare, it is important to understand why this is the case. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>We previously dissected the reasons \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F10-reasons-why-digital-health-start-ups-go-bust\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">why digital health startups go bust\u003C\u002Fa> and the human element \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fdigital-health-ventures-that-flew-too-close-to-the-sun\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">that jeopardised promising digital health tech\u003C\u002Fa>. So in this article, we decided to go back to the dissection room to explore the anatomy of a good digital health company. So let’s take our digital scalpel and get to the task!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The five features of a good digital health company\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Scalpel equipped and ready? Follow along the incision lines and you’ll find that a good digital health company will have the following elements:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Transparent communication through social media\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In the age of the internet, social media is where a company can reach out to most people. By leveraging this reach, companies can build trust in their products\u002Fservices through transparent communication. However, going against this trend doesn’t bode well for the company and its audience. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As a negative example, we can take now defunct Nima. The startup launched two promising portable food sensors some years ago. We tested both the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ffighting-against-a-small-enemy-the-nima-peanut-sensor-review\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">peanut sensor\u003C\u002Fa> and the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ftesting-food-gluten-home-nima-sensor-review\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">gluten sensor\u003C\u002Fa> and found them to be accurate and very practical to use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>But since our reviews in 2018, Nima hasn’t released any new products and went silent. Online, users were reporting a lack of the availability \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.goodforyouglutenfree.com\u002Fnima-sensor-out-of-business\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">of testing capsules\u003C\u002Fa> required for the devices and \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fglutendude.com\u002Fnima-sensor-out-of-business\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">a lack of communication\u003C\u002Fa> from the company itself. And they were blaming the new management for these issues. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Showing their claims through evidence-based studies\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Given how digital health companies operate in the delicate area of healthcare, backing the claims of their tools through research will make them more noteworthy. For example, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnightingalehealth.com\u002Fabout\u002Ftechnology\" target=\"_blank\">Nightingale\u003C\u002Fa> uses nuclear magnetic resonance and its proprietary software to analyse numerous biomarkers in a single blood sample. But unlike \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pulse.com.gh\u002Fbi\u002Ftech\u002Fthe-reporter-who-broke-the-theranos-saga-wide-open-pinpoints-the-moment-he-knew-he\u002Fxmbl8zp\" target=\"_blank\">Theranos and its false claims\u003C\u002Fa>, Nightingale teamed with researchers to be more transparent about their tech. Now, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnightingalehealth.com\u002Fpublications\" target=\"_blank\">over 350 studies\u003C\u002Fa> have applied their method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Theranos Scam And The State Of Blood Testing - The Medical Futurist\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002F_N-gKgNXDMY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Meeting real-life clinical or patient needs\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For a technology, and subsequently, the company behind it, to be successful, it should integrate into the practical reality of healthcare. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For example, during the pandemic, telemedicine presented itself as \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fcovid-19-was-needed-for-telemedicine-to-finally-go-mainstream\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">a ready-made option\u003C\u002Fa> that surged during the pandemic. Companies offering such services saw a boom in adoption. Amwell’s telemedicine app usage \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fqz.com\u002F1821549\u002Ftelemedicine-faces-unprecedented-demand-in-the-wake-of-coronavirus\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">went up by 158%\u003C\u002Fa> in the U.S. and appointments through PlushCare increased by 70%. In comparison, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fqz.com\u002F1821549\u002Ftelemedicine-faces-unprecedented-demand-in-the-wake-of-coronavirus\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">only 1 in 10 U.S. patients\u003C\u002Fa> had used telemedicine services before the pandemic. And although the pandemic has passed, telemedicine usage among US adults remained significantly higher than before, the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cdc.gov\u002Fnchs\u002Fproducts\u002Fdatabriefs\u002Fdb445.htm\" target=\"_blank\">CDC reported\u003C\u002Fa> that 37% of Americans used such services in 2021, and \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.valuepenguin.com\u002Ftelehealth-use-study\" target=\"_blank\">data from 2022 shows\u003C\u002Fa> that such services were utilized by 22% during the 4-week survey period.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Catering to niche areas\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The more niche of an area that a digital health company focuses on, the higher its chances of success. Austrian startup \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.mysugr.com\u002Fen\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">mySugr\u003C\u002Fa> is an example of this. Their app helps diabetics reinterpret the condition as a “monster” that can be tamed through their app. Through motivating challenges, personalised insights and a scoring system, it encourages patients to “tame the monster” by keeping their glucose level at a desirable one. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Pharma giant Roche even saw the potential in mySugr’s gamified approach and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.roche.com\u002Fmedia\u002Freleases\u002Fmed-cor-2017-06-30.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">acquired the startup in 2017\u003C\u002Fa>. It paired the mySugr app with its existing Accu-Chek Guide glucose meter to create the mySugr Bundle; thereby augmenting diabetics’ management of their condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Adoption of patient design\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Often left out of the equation are patients who, conversely, are often the end-user of digital health services. Their input can be paramount in developing products attending to their medical needs. Incorporating a patient advisory board and including patient design can help a digital health company stand out from the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fliving-with-an-artificial-pancreas\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">#wearenotwaiting movement\u003C\u002Fa> from diabetics illustrates this. With the artificial pancreas not available on the market due to lagging regulations, the diabetics’ community designed their own DIY one that works. After two years since the DIY version was freely available, the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bloomberg.com\u002Fnews\u002Farticles\u002F2016-09-28\u002Fartificial-pancreas-approved-by-fda-is-first-such-device-in-u-s\" target=\"_blank\">FDA finally approved\u003C\u002Fa> an artificial pancreas. If a company integrated a patient advisory board, leveraged its insight to develop such a product and pushed to have it approved, it would have a significant edge over other competitors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Why is Patient Design Essential in Healthcare? \u002F Episode 6 - The Medical Futurist\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FhjPcpVaJ9xU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The importance of separating the wheat from the chaff\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Now that the dissection is complete and the anatomical components of a good digital health company are identified, we can turn our attention to an actual example of such a company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For this purpose, we’ll look at the path taken by manufacturers of portable ECG monitors like \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.alivecor.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">AliveCor\u003C\u002Fa>. Since releasing its first FDA-approved portable ECG device in 2012, the company has pushed to have its devices tested in clinical trials while refining their design. By 2020, AliveCor’s products were tested in \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nature.com\u002Farticles\u002Fs41746-020-00333-z\" target=\"_blank\">more than 40 clinical studies\u003C\u002Fa> (and \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.alivecor.com\u002Fresearch\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">counting\u003C\u002Fa>). Integrated technologies like A. I. and their device were \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.jacc.org\u002Fdoi\u002Ffull\u002F10.1016\u002Fj.jacc.2018.03.003\" target=\"_blank\">deemed comparable\u003C\u002Fa> to a traditional (and bulky) 12-lead ECG by a study. By getting their products validated and pushing for good digital communication, the device can become part of everyday practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>When venturing forth into the digital health industry, companies have to dream big as they intend to disrupt the healthcare industry. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F11\u002FFINAL-Top100-DH-Companies-2022.png\" alt=\"Top 100 Digital Health Companies 2022\" class=\"wp-image-48135\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F11\u002FFINAL-Top100-DH-Companies-2022.png 1920w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F11\u002FFINAL-Top100-DH-Companies-2022-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F11\u002FFINAL-Top100-DH-Companies-2022-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F11\u002FFINAL-Top100-DH-Companies-2022-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F11\u002FFINAL-Top100-DH-Companies-2022-2048x1152.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-top-100-digital-health-companies-in-2022-from-the-medical-futurist\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Annual Top100 Digital Health Companies List\u003C\u002Fa> from The Medical Futurist. Click on the image to view it in full-size\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, companies that tend \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fdigital-health-ventures-that-flew-too-close-to-the-sun\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">to fly too close to the sun\u003C\u002Fa> by overpromising and under-delivering make it hard to identify good companies. Some like \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ffrom-theranos-to-google-glass-the-biggest-flops-in-digital-health\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Theranos\u003C\u002Fa> build on hype and overclaims but turn out to be scams that leave a sour taste in investors’ mouths. This can impede progress in an otherwise promising sector. Also impeding progress is mismanagement like in \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fdigital-health-ventures-that-flew-too-close-to-the-sun\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">the case of Proteus\u003C\u002Fa> and the development of digital pills. While the technology is sound, the human factor ultimately led to its bankruptcy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As such, we hope that this anatomy will help you discern digital health companies and the services they offer that are worth your while from those that aren’t. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>Written by Dr. Bertalan Meskó & Dr. Pranavsingh Dhunnoo\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":1261,"protected":16},"\u003Cp>Exploring the anatomy of a good digital health company: from communication to studies, these are the issues that count.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",26469,{"_acf_changed":16,"footnotes":64},[68,5,1136,1137,69,445,788,1265,601,1266],497,494,[1268,1269,1270,1271,1272,1273,1274,1275,1276],6369,1010,1126,175,181,207,347,550,421,[89,1278,750,90],948,[],[1281,1282,1283,1284,102,104,105,1285],2107,2113,2935,3277,2027,[1287,53,109,110,111,112,113,114,115,1156,1157,116,479,1288,1289,627,1290,1291,1292,1293,1294,1295,1296,1297,1298,1299,134,1300,783,135],"post-37637","category-personalized-medicine","category-portable-diagnostics","category-telemedicine","tag-invest","tag-company","tag-patient-design","tag-clinical-trial","tag-communication","tag-digital-health","tag-patient","tag-theranos","tag-study","project_category-developers",{"id":1262,"alt_text":1302,"caption":64,"description":64,"media_type":142,"media_details":1303,"post":1328,"source_url":1329},"future of pharma",{"width":144,"height":145,"file":1304,"sizes":1305,"image_meta":1326},"2020\u002F02\u002Fpharma-future-small.png",{"medium":1306,"large":1309,"thumbnail":1312,"medium_large":1315,"1536x1536":1316,"medium_old_370x208":1319,"large_old_512x288":1320,"thumbnail_old_150x150":1323,"medium_large_old_768x432":1324,"1536x1536_old_1536x864":1325},{"file":1307,"width":150,"height":151,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1308},"pharma-future-small-370x208.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F02\u002Fpharma-future-small-370x208.png",{"file":1310,"width":156,"height":157,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1311},"pharma-future-small-768x432.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F02\u002Fpharma-future-small-768x432.png",{"file":1313,"width":161,"height":161,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1314},"pharma-future-small-150x150.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F02\u002Fpharma-future-small-150x150.png",{"file":1310,"width":156,"height":157,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1311},{"file":1317,"width":166,"height":167,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1318},"pharma-future-small-1536x864.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F02\u002Fpharma-future-small-1536x864.png",{"file":1307,"width":177,"height":178,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1308},{"file":1321,"width":183,"height":184,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1322},"pharma-future-small-512x288.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F02\u002Fpharma-future-small-512x288.png",{"file":1313,"width":175,"height":175,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1314},{"file":1310,"width":180,"height":181,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1311},{"file":1317,"width":510,"height":511,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1318},{"aperture":186,"credit":64,"camera":64,"caption":64,"created_timestamp":186,"copyright":64,"focal_length":186,"iso":186,"shutter_speed":186,"title":64,"orientation":186,"keywords":1327},[],26327,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F02\u002Fpharma-future-small.png",{"cta_type":64,"cta_color":64,"subtitle":64,"related_books":1331,"related_posts_footer":1333,"related_posts":16},[1332,197],24757,[1334,1335,1336],28693,24201,31317,{"yoast_wpseo_title":1338,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":1339,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":1255},"5 Best Practices To Build A Future-Ready Digital Health Company - The Medical Futurist","Exploring the anatomy of a good digital health company: from communication to studies, these are the issues that count.",{"self":1341,"collection":1346,"about":1348,"author":1350,"replies":1353,"version-history":1356,"predecessor-version":1360,"wp:featuredmedia":1364,"wp:attachment":1367,"wp:term":1370,"curies":1381},[1342],{"href":1343,"targetHints":1344},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F37637",{"allow":1345},[27],[1347],{"href":214},[1349],{"href":217},[1351],{"embeddable":41,"href":1352},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fusers\u002F16",[1354],{"embeddable":41,"href":1355},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=37637",[1357],{"count":1358,"href":1359},28,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F37637\u002Frevisions",[1361],{"id":1362,"href":1363},49371,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F37637\u002Frevisions\u002F49371",[1365],{"embeddable":41,"href":1366},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F26469",[1368],{"href":1369},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=37637",[1371,1373,1375,1377,1379],{"taxonomy":11,"embeddable":41,"href":1372},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=37637",{"taxonomy":242,"embeddable":41,"href":1374},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=37637",{"taxonomy":245,"embeddable":41,"href":1376},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=37637",{"taxonomy":248,"embeddable":41,"href":1378},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=37637",{"taxonomy":251,"embeddable":41,"href":1380},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=37637",[1382],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},{"id":1384,"date":1385,"date_gmt":1386,"guid":1387,"modified":1389,"modified_gmt":1390,"slug":1391,"status":52,"type":53,"link":1392,"title":1393,"content":1395,"excerpt":1397,"author":61,"featured_media":1399,"comment_status":63,"ping_status":63,"sticky":41,"template":64,"format":65,"meta":1400,"categories":1401,"tags":1403,"project_category":1425,"contact_email_category":1427,"yst_prominent_words":1428,"class_list":1434,"better_featured_image":1459,"acf":1479,"yoast_meta":1484,"_links":1487},13151,"2023-01-31T10:00:00","2023-01-31T09:00:00",{"rendered":1388},"http:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?p=13151","2023-01-29T07:36:09","2023-01-29T06:36:09","bioethical-issues","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fbioethical-issues",{"rendered":1394},"TOP 10 Dangers Of Digital Health",{"rendered":1396,"protected":16},"\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thanks to the advent of digital health, the future of medicine is truly exciting. With technological advancements that democratise access to care, better treatments are accessible to people than ever before. Breakthrough research and medical developments have eradicated deadly diseases and turned others into manageable conditions. But the very developments that propel healthcare to the 21st century bring their own share of hazards to the field.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From the elimination of privacy through hacked medical devices to bioterrorism, there are signs of alarming trends that few take seriously. Nevertheless, we must generate discussion around these issues and help prepare every stakeholder to address them. To this end, we collected 10 of the most important hazards that technology brings about in the digital health age.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cb>1. Regulating adaptive AI algorithms\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Flocked-and-adaptive-algorithms-in-healthcare-differences-importance-and-regulatory-hurdles\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">adaptive artificial intelligence\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (AI) is one that can adapt itself on the go based on new information it receives. In a clinical environment, it would, for example, be able to recommend blood tests more frequently in a population that has a high prevalence of diabetes. And if it sees that people in this population also have a tendency to develop cardiac issues, it will also recommend a cardiovascular evaluation.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F04\u002FAI-bias-768x432.png\" alt=\"AI bias algorithm artificial intelligence people patients race population\" class=\"wp-image-41809\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F04\u002FAI-bias-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F04\u002FAI-bias-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F04\u002FAI-bias-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F04\u002FAI-bias-2048x1152.png 2048w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F04\u002FAI-bias.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, such algorithms rely on existing medical data which is \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fa-i-bias-in-healthcare\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fraught with inherent biases\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. By evolving on such data, adaptive AI will only reinforce those harmful biases such as discriminating based on one’s ethnicity and\u002For gender. To mitigate those risks, regulatory authorities must adopt new regulatory approaches to ensure that equitable adaptive AI algorithms are employed in healthcare facilities.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>2. Hacking medical devices remotely\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New medical implants and devices are increasingly getting wireless connectivity features whether it’s to monitor metrics or run diagnostics. However, this also means that they are prone to hacks and these could prove fatal to patients.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Back in 2011, \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theregister.com\u002F2011\u002F10\u002F27\u002Ffatal_insulin_pump_attack\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a researcher\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> showed that it was possible to hack Medtronic insulin pumps to deliver fatal doses to diabetic patients. Others can \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.washingtonpost.com\u002Fnews\u002Fthe-switch\u002Fwp\u002F2013\u002F10\u002F21\u002Fyes-terrorists-could-have-hacked-dick-cheneys-heart\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hijack pacemakers\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> over Bluetooth, \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wired.com\u002F2014\u002F04\u002Fhospital-equipment-vulnerable\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">compromise X-ray data\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, remotely \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wired.com\u002F2014\u002F06\u002Fhospital-networks-leaking-data\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reconfigure CT scans\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to alter radiation exposure, and the list \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wired.com\u002F2015\u002F11\u002Fmedical-devices-that-are-vulnerable-to-life-threatening-hacks\u002F#slide-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">goes on\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. As more and more patients and healthcare institutions adopt such solutions, are regulators ensuring that private companies provide secure technologies? What can we do to protect wearable devices that are connected to our physiological system from remote hacks? Patients should demand safer options, while companies developing such technologies should make sure they are safe and users should be as vigilant as possible when using them.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cb>3. Privacy breaches by and on direct-to-consumer devices and services\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The relationship between digital health adoption and privacy is a delicate one. In short, there is no digital health without compromising a part of our privacy. In order to provide individual and personalised results, tools such as health sensors and AI need access to our personal health data. But how secure are such data once the companies behind those tools have access to them? For instance, the popular direct-to-consumer DNA testing company 23andMe and pharma giant GSK \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gsk.com\u002Fen-gb\u002Fmedia\u002Fpress-releases\u002Fgsk-and-23andme-sign-agreement-to-leverage-genetic-insights-for-the-development-of-novel-medicines\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">signed a $300 million deal\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for drug development. This deal leveraged 23andMe’s substantial genetic resources, and it was made possible through its customers being oblivious that such a deal was in the pipeline. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Privacy and security issues pertaining to the digital health era are complex and multifactorial. These aren’t likely to get any simpler as more and more advanced technologies get integrated into the field. As such, every stakeholder in the healthcare landscape must contemplate the need for changes in the digital health era. To help you navigate these questions, we published \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fyour-privacy-in-the-digital-health-era-the-medical-futurists-guide\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">an e-book dedicated to the topic\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\">\u003Ca class=\"img\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fyour-privacy-in-the-digital-health-era-the-medical-futurists-guide\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F0811_privacy_2022_header-copy-small-768x432.png\" alt=\"Hackers, breaches and the value of health data TMF privacy ebook\" class=\"wp-image-47062\"\u002F\u003C\u002Fa srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F0811_privacy_2022_header-copy-small-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F0811_privacy_2022_header-copy-small-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F0811_privacy_2022_header-copy-small-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F0811_privacy_2022_header-copy-small-2048x1152.png 2048w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F0811_privacy_2022_header-copy-small.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cb>4. Ransomware attacks on hospitals\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When talking about cyber threats in healthcare, the most common ones are \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fcyberthreats-to-hospitals-2021\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ransomware\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. These involve hackers who infect IT systems with malware or digital viruses to encrypt crucial files. These paralyse whole infrastructures as that information is inaccessible until a ransom is paid, usually through cryptocurrency.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the high-profile ones happened back in 2017 with the \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-nhs-ransomware-attack-data-privacy-in-digital-health-part-one\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WannaCry attacks\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on 61 NHS institutions. It led to the cancellation of operations and clinical appointments, loss of internet connection in hospitals and diverted patients from emergency departments even one week after the incident. This trend was perpetuated in subsequent years. Cybersecurity incidents involving patient data hit all-time highs \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedcitynews.com\u002F2022\u002F12\u002Fwhat-we-learned-from-cybersecurity-attacks-in-healthcare-in-2022\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">year after year\u003C\u002Fa>, and experts predict that 2023 likely won’t be any better. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cyber threats in healthcare cannot be overlooked. The average patient should demand more security over their data, and the medical staff and management should take these demands seriously and familiarise themselves with cybercrime methods in order to better counter them.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cb>5. Technologies supporting self-diagnosis\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Physicians are worried because patients google their symptoms and treatments as they might wrongly associate the information they find \u003C\u002Fspan>with more serious conditions than what their caregiver diagnoses them with. Researchers as well are sounding the alarm about patients turning to hospitals due to smartwatch notifications about abnormal ECG readings, many of which are not clinically actionable. But soon, more and more patients will have access to more metrics at home whether they come from blood tests or genetic analyses; some of which come\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from unregulated companies offering inaccurate services.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F213_tmf-01.png\" alt=\"Can your smartwatch send you to the hospital?\" class=\"wp-image-30731\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F213_tmf-01.png 1920w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F213_tmf-01-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F213_tmf-01-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F213_tmf-01-1536x864.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This, together with advanced chatbots offering medical advice can pave the way for even more serious cases of misinterpretation or self-medication. Will we be able to persuade patients not to further overload hospitals in this way? To avert this, proper guidance from medical professionals can equip patients to better interpret readings from their smart sensors, and authorities can regulate those services so that patients can get to know which companies to trust. This will, in turn, help avoid unnecessary hospital visits.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cb>6. Bioterrorism through digital health technologies\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the convenience and enhanced medical solutions brought about by the interconnected world of digital health technologies, \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fdisruptive-technologies-bioterrorism\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bioterrorism\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> also propels to new levels. We discussed how medical devices can be hacked remotely and that ransomware attacks \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.technologyreview.com\u002F2020\u002F11\u002F12\u002F1012015\u002Fransomware-did-not-kill-a-german-hospital-patient\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hold the risk of being fatal\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for some patients. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now with \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.reuters.com\u002Ftechnology\u002Fwhat-does-elon-musks-brain-chip-company-neuralink-do-2022-12-05\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Neuralink\u003C\u002Fa>, Elon Musk wants to \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.forbes.com\u002Fsites\u002Fjohnkoetsier\u002F2020\u002F08\u002F28\u002Felon-musk-wants-to-put-a-fitbit-in-your-skull-to-summon-your-tesla\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">embed a “Fitbit in your skull”,\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> while startup \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nanotics.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NaNotics\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is developing nanorobots that \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.worldhealth.net\u002Fnews\u002Fnanotech-suggests-have-found-way-combat-age-related-diseases\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“mop up” molecules\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that trigger diseases and ageing from the circulation. With \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftechfundingnews.com\u002Fa-brain-implant-no-thicker-than-a-human-hair-neuralinks-competitor-raises-41m-funding\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">such advanced technologies on the horizon\u003C\u002Fa>, are we equipped to prevent bioterrorists from hacking into these devices to directly gain control over our health?\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cb>7. AI not tested in a real-life clinical setting\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We regularly hear news headlines of an AI’s incredible prowess in the healthcare setting. But in many cases, these results are obtained from laboratories using selected datasets or ideal settings which aren’t totally reflective of actual clinical environments. Google learnt it the hard way.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3200\" height=\"1800\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F04\u002F065_compassionate_care_v2.png\" alt=\"A.I. in medicine\" class=\"wp-image-23751\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F04\u002F065_compassionate_care_v2.png 3200w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F04\u002F065_compassionate_care_v2-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F04\u002F065_compassionate_care_v2-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F04\u002F065_compassionate_care_v2-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F04\u002F065_compassionate_care_v2-2048x1152.png 2048w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F04\u002F065_compassionate_care_v2-512x288.png 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medical researchers from the company touted the ability of its AI tool to screen patients for diabetic retinopathy (DR) from images \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftechcrunch.com\u002F2020\u002F04\u002F27\u002Fgoogle-medical-researchers-humbled-when-ai-screening-tool-falls-short-in-real-life-testing\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">with 90% accuracy\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. DR is a major cause of vision loss worldwide, and detecting the condition earlier can prevent complications. But Google’s AI \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftechcrunch.com\u002F2020\u002F04\u002F27\u002Fgoogle-medical-researchers-humbled-when-ai-screening-tool-falls-short-in-real-life-testing\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> didn’t fare so well in practice\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as it did on paper. When used by nurses in a hospital in Thailand, they \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftechcrunch.com\u002F2020\u002F04\u002F27\u002Fgoogle-medical-researchers-humbled-when-ai-screening-tool-falls-short-in-real-life-testing\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">encountered several issues\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Sometimes they had internet connection troubles; at other times the quality of the scan didn’t meet a certain threshold, so the AI simply didn’t give a result. And on some occasions, nurses even had to spend extra time editing some of the images the algorithm didn’t want to analyse.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cb>8. Synthetic health data is not entirely accurate in simulating reality\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-future-of-clinical-trials-artificial-patients-synthetic-data-and-real-time-analysis\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Synthetic data\u003C\u002Fa> is the use of AI to create datasets that mimic the real world. We use it for several reasons: 1. we don’t have enough real-world data or 2. don’t want to use real-world (sensitive) data. It is useful for feeding any algorithm that needs massive amounts of data to learn and either develop new prediction capabilities or recognise patterns. Synthetic data is widely used in a number of industries and segments, not just in medicine, but also in self-driving vehicles, security, robotics, fraud protection, insurance models, the military, and so on. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, any dataset we create will be imperfect to some extent. It will contain biases we are not aware of. It will not include important variables we either overlooked or are not aware of their importance. Even, in the best of cases, it will be like a snapshot of a given moment in a given situation. If we let machine learning and deep learning algorithms develop on these synthetic, imperfect datasets, chances are they will come to conclusions that are more or less false in the real world. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F08\u002F103_In-silico-clinical-trials-768x432.png\" alt=\"in silico trials, synthetic data, artificial patient, TMF\" class=\"wp-image-24545\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F08\u002F103_In-silico-clinical-trials-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F08\u002F103_In-silico-clinical-trials-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F08\u002F103_In-silico-clinical-trials-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F08\u002F103_In-silico-clinical-trials-2048x1152.png 2048w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F08\u002F103_In-silico-clinical-trials.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Synthetic data is cheap and easy to come by, much easier and cheaper than collecting huge amounts of messy real-world data. What happens if decisions affecting large groups of people or whole societies will be made based on it? It is especially worrying as the world already faces challenges regarding “truth”. Introducing alternative truths based on ‘data’ to back decisions affecting societies – like healthcare funding, insurance models and so on – can have devastating consequences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cb>9. Face recognition cameras in hospitals\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fyour-guide-to-facial-recognition-technology-in-healthcare\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Facial recognition technology\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a method that combines image analysis and deep neural networks to interpret patterns from facial characteristics. It can reveal a range of medical conditions. Its functional algorithm relies on existing databases and dives into comparing those features in order to output a result. Its application in healthcare shows promise from detecting rare genetic conditions to \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fdigital-health-in-aesthetics\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">extracting facial blood flow information\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the U.S., controversial company Clearview AI, which made a facial recognition database from social media pictures of unsuspecting individuals, \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wired.com\u002Fstory\u002Fvalue-ethics-using-phone-data-monitor-covid-19\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pitched its platform\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to the government to track those infected with SARS-CoV-2. However, employing the technology from a company with dubious intentions poses new privacy risks. What will they do with the images collected? Will they be shared with law enforcement officials for surveillance, which can \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsitn.hms.harvard.edu\u002Fflash\u002F2020\u002Fracial-discrimination-in-face-recognition-technology\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">further fuel racial discrimination\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">? \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cb>10. Health insurance: Dr Big Brother\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the availability and adoption of fitness trackers, direct-to-consumer genetic tests and health sensors, health insurance companies are able to assess applicants for insurance coverage based on their individual needs. For example, if one’s genetic test reveals a higher probability of acquiring ovarian cancer, the insurance company could subsequently subsidise relevant tests and offer them more regularly to that person. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, such availability of personal data is also a double-edged sword. It \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-future-of-health-insurance-preparing-for-dr-big-brother\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">could lead to a dystopian, Orwellian scenario\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Insurance companies could demand access to individuals’ wearables data in order to offer insurance; charge higher premiums if customers aren’t maintaining a healthy lifestyle; and even discriminate against applicants based on their genetic risk. The U.S. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.genome.gov\u002Fabout-genomics\u002Fpolicy-issues\u002FGenetic-Discrimination\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was set up to address such biases, but what if new insurance policies amend it due to pressure from lobbies?\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"489\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F041_crowdfounding_V2.png\" alt=\"future of health insurance\" class=\"wp-image-22082\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F041_crowdfounding_V2.png 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F041_crowdfounding_V2-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F041_crowdfounding_V2-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F041_crowdfounding_V2-512x288.png 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\u003Chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\u002F>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are of course more such hazards emerging from the digital health world which we will encounter more frequently in the near future. So let’s start discussing these issues at home, at the workplace and on public forums. This way we can prepare to exploit the advantages technology offers, while keeping the potential dangers at bay.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003Cstrong>And we shall never forget: “\u003Cem>Primum non nocere\u003C\u002Fem>”!\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ci>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Written by Dr. Bertalan Meskó & Dr. Pranavsingh Dhunnoo\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fi>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFIbMejImnxs\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":1398,"protected":16},"\u003Cp>There are many threats if we let medical innovation run wild. We collected 10 hazards that technology brings about in the digital health age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",33749,{"_acf_changed":16,"footnotes":64},[68,5,444,1136,1139,1402,70,1266],507,[1026,1145,1404,1405,1406,1407,1408,1409,1410,1411,1412,76,608,1413,1414,1415,1416,1417,1418,1419,1420,1421,1422,1423,1424],137,691,6743,224,692,6871,266,740,6873,6875,1535,453,6877,6881,821,6883,845,6885,5267,6887,6243,[89,1278,1426,750,91],949,[],[106,95,1429,299,1430,101,102,311,104,1431,309,1432,105,1433],1833,2993,4907,5013,1683,[1435,53,109,110,111,112,113,114,115,478,1156,1159,1436,117,1290,1035,1164,1437,1438,1439,1440,1441,1442,1443,1444,1445,122,633,1446,1447,1448,1449,1450,1451,1452,1453,1454,1455,1456,1457,134,1300,1458,783,136],"post-13151","category-nanotechnology","tag-algorithm","tag-wannacry","tag-hospitals","tag-ecg","tag-ransomware","tag-ct-scans","tag-google-2","tag-elon-musk","tag-hacking","tag-cryptocurrency","tag-facial-recognition","tag-wearables-2","tag-diabetic-retinopathy","tag-clearview-ai","tag-a-i","tag-sars-cov-2","tag-medtronic","tag-orwellian","tag-researchers","tag-genetic-information-nondiscrimination-act","tag-nanotics","project_category-educators",{"id":1399,"alt_text":64,"caption":1460,"description":64,"media_type":142,"media_details":1461,"post":1384,"source_url":1478},"10 hazards ",{"width":144,"height":145,"file":1462,"sizes":1463,"image_meta":1477},"2021\u002F03\u002Ftmf_article_253-01.png",{"medium":1464,"large":1467,"thumbnail":1470,"medium_large":1473,"1536x1536":1474},{"file":1465,"width":177,"height":178,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1466},"tmf_article_253-01-370x208.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F03\u002Ftmf_article_253-01-370x208.png",{"file":1468,"width":180,"height":181,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1469},"tmf_article_253-01-768x432.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F03\u002Ftmf_article_253-01-768x432.png",{"file":1471,"width":175,"height":175,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1472},"tmf_article_253-01-150x150.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F03\u002Ftmf_article_253-01-150x150.png",{"file":1468,"width":180,"height":181,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1469},{"file":1475,"width":510,"height":511,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1476},"tmf_article_253-01-1536x864.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F03\u002Ftmf_article_253-01-1536x864.png",{"aperture":186,"credit":64,"camera":64,"caption":64,"created_timestamp":186,"copyright":64,"focal_length":186,"iso":186,"shutter_speed":186,"title":64,"orientation":186},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F03\u002Ftmf_article_253-01.png",{"related_posts":16,"related_posts_footer":1480,"cta_type":194,"cta_color":64,"subtitle":64,"related_books":16},[1481,1482,1483],31729,33587,33075,{"yoast_wpseo_title":1485,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":1486,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":1392},"TOP 10 Dangers Of Digital Health And Medical Innovation","There are many threats if we let medical innovation run wild. We collected 10 hazards that technology brings about in the digital health age.",{"self":1488,"collection":1493,"about":1495,"author":1497,"replies":1499,"version-history":1502,"predecessor-version":1506,"wp:featuredmedia":1510,"wp:attachment":1513,"wp:term":1516,"curies":1527},[1489],{"href":1490,"targetHints":1491},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F13151",{"allow":1492},[27],[1494],{"href":214},[1496],{"href":217},[1498],{"embeddable":41,"href":220},[1500],{"embeddable":41,"href":1501},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=13151",[1503],{"count":1504,"href":1505},51,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F13151\u002Frevisions",[1507],{"id":1508,"href":1509},48941,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F13151\u002Frevisions\u002F48941",[1511],{"embeddable":41,"href":1512},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F33749",[1514],{"href":1515},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=13151",[1517,1519,1521,1523,1525],{"taxonomy":11,"embeddable":41,"href":1518},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=13151",{"taxonomy":242,"embeddable":41,"href":1520},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=13151",{"taxonomy":245,"embeddable":41,"href":1522},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=13151",{"taxonomy":248,"embeddable":41,"href":1524},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=13151",{"taxonomy":251,"embeddable":41,"href":1526},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=13151",[1528],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},{"id":1530,"date":1531,"date_gmt":1532,"guid":1533,"modified":1535,"modified_gmt":1536,"slug":1537,"status":52,"type":53,"link":1538,"title":1539,"content":1541,"excerpt":1543,"author":400,"featured_media":1545,"comment_status":63,"ping_status":63,"sticky":41,"template":64,"format":65,"meta":1546,"categories":1547,"tags":1548,"project_category":1553,"contact_email_category":1554,"yst_prominent_words":1555,"class_list":1561,"better_featured_image":1567,"acf":1589,"yoast_meta":1596,"_links":1598},25311,"2023-01-10T10:00:00","2023-01-10T09:00:00",{"rendered":1534},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_id=25311&_wpnonce=60ce903513&status=auto-draft&type=post","2023-01-09T16:44:44","2023-01-09T15:44:44","your-guide-to-facial-recognition-technology-in-healthcare","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fyour-guide-to-facial-recognition-technology-in-healthcare",{"rendered":1540},"Your Guide To Facial Recognition Technology in Healthcare",{"rendered":1542,"protected":16},"\n\u003Cp>Facial recognition technology is upon us; phones and computers can be unlocked with your specific facial structure using this gimmick, but it can also scarily be used to identify you from security cameras, which are increasingly becoming omnipresent. As a matter of fact, Australian governments have been actively pushing for the implementation of this technology with what \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"The Guardian calls "creative reasons" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Ftechnology\u002F2019\u002Fnov\u002F17\u002Fporn-public-transport-and-other-dubious-justifications-for-using-facial-recognition-software\" target=\"_blank\">The Guardian calls “creative reasons”\u003C\u002Fa> such as public transport payments and government rebates. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>But what about the implications of this technology in healthcare? \u003Cstrong>From better diagnosis of rare conditions to ethnic discrimination, will it revolutionise the healthcare system or be the harbinger of a Black Mirror-worthy reality?\u003C\u002Fstrong> We’ll analyze these questions and more in this article as we guide you through the basics of this hot technology and its potential implications and ethical challenges lying ahead. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002Ffacial-recognition-wikimedia-commons-768x512.jpg\" alt=\"facial recognition face phone\" class=\"wp-image-48581\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002Ffacial-recognition-wikimedia-commons-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002Ffacial-recognition-wikimedia-commons.jpg 1227w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>What the FRT?!\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>FRT, short for facial recognition technology, is a method used to identify a person based on their specific facial features like bone structure and skin texture. Its functional algorithm relies on existing databases which it dives into to compare those features in order to output a result. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Such software has been in use to identify law offenders or to visualise how missing children might look like as adults but not really in the healthcare sector, that is until recently. This is because \u003Cstrong>with time FRT became more sophisticated (thanks to a larger database of faces) and accessible (your phone has it!), and is now becoming increasingly attractive in medicine\u003C\u002Fstrong> thanks to the numerous ways it can be implemented in this sector from cutting down on paperwork to helping physicians in diagnosis. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From Facebook picture-tagging to identifying rare genetic conditions: how can FRT benefit healthcare?\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Do you know how Facebook or your mobile prompts you with suggestions about people to tag in a photo? This is a prime example of FRT in action – the software can identify someone based on their unique facial features. Now imagine going to your local hospital in the near future for that sore throat that has been bothering you for over a week. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Instead of going through the waiting lines for administrative purposes, a virtual assistant will scan your face in a matter of seconds and assign you to your doctor. In so doing, the algorithm can even detect other irregularities like \u003Ca aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fieeexplore.ieee.org\u002Fabstract\u002Fdocument\u002F7063266\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cstrong>signs of depression\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> and will inform your doctor of such a possibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002Ftom-sodoge-Qeqg7F9pfuU-unsplash-768x512.jpg\" alt=\"phone man person face facial recognition\" class=\"wp-image-48579\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002Ftom-sodoge-Qeqg7F9pfuU-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002Ftom-sodoge-Qeqg7F9pfuU-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002Ftom-sodoge-Qeqg7F9pfuU-unsplash-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002Ftom-sodoge-Qeqg7F9pfuU-unsplash-scaled.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Such applications are far from being mere products of the mind. An oft-cited example is \u003Ca aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.face2gene.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Face2Gene\u003C\u002Fa>, an \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wired.com\u002Fstory\u002Fapp-diagnose-rare-diseases-childs-face\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">app used by clinicians\u003C\u002Fa> that can detect rare genetic conditions like \u003Ca aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FCornelia_de_Lange_syndrome\" target=\"_blank\">Cornelia de Lange syndrome\u003C\u002Fa>, where patients have characteristic facial features which can be missed by physicians because they simply might not have come across it during their clinical practice. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>This was the case with Omar Abdul-Rahman, a medical geneticist, who, thanks to the app, recommended the family of a three-year-old boy that they order a specific genetic test for \u003Ca aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FMowat%E2%80%93Wilson_syndrome\" target=\"_blank\">Mowat-Wilson syndrome\u003C\u002Fa>, which returned positive. “If it weren’t for the app I’m not sure I would have had the confidence to say ‘yes you should spend $1000 on this test,” Rahman told the online outlet Leapsmag. This saved the family from making further expenses which might not have correctly identified the condition and would have further delayed the appropriate care that the young boy required.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In \u003Ca aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nature.com\u002Farticles\u002Fs41591-018-0279-0\" target=\"_blank\">a study\u003C\u002Fa>, the deep-learning algorithm DeepGestalt, which powers Face2Gene was shown to outperform clinicians in diagnosing syndromes like Noonan syndrome. DeepGestalt even correctly identified conditions in its top ten list 91% of the time. “It’s like a Google search,” the study’s co-author \u003Ca aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nature.com\u002Farticles\u002Fd41586-019-00027-x\" target=\"_blank\">Karen Gripp tells Nature\u003C\u002Fa>. With such a high success rate and the ease of using the app, such a comparison is not far-fetched. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What about the future of healthcare?\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It wouldn’t even be worthless to speculate what this technology could lead to or do in the future. Below are our top 5 potential and highly anticipated uses of FRT in healthcare in the (near?) future:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Smart mirrors\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Am I Healthy?” Asking your mirror this question might soon be possible. By combining FRT into a seemingly simple mirror with a built-in camera and existing technologies like \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Faspiring-dermatology-app-under-the-microscope-the-skinvision-review\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">SkinVision\u003C\u002Fa>’s skin analysis and \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nuralogix.ai\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Nuralogix’s transdermal optical imaging technique\u003C\u002Fa> to measure blood pressure and stress level, a quick scan can reveal a lot by simply looking at your own reflection (or by asking your mirror!). Such a smart mirror could advise you to get that new mole on your cheek checked, recommend meditation in case your stress level is higher than usual and refer you to your doctor if there are any abnormal fluctuations in your blood pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Care for healthcare professionals\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>More than just for patients’ health, FRT can also be used for the wellbeing of healthcare practitioners themselves. \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.medscape.com\u002Fslideshow\u002F2022-lifestyle-burnout-6014664?reg=1\" target=\"_blank\">Medscape’s 2022 report\u003C\u002Fa> found that 47% of physicians feel burned out, 64% were colloquially depressed and 24% suffered from clinical depression. These can be identified via facial analysis and subsequently addressed, like suggesting stress-relieving measures like yoga or even vacations, before they further affect the health of healthcare providers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Looking for mischief\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The applications of such technology can further be adapted to other areas within the healthcare system. For example, unlawful people like insurance imposters, drug seekers and criminals can be easily identified from a given database and dealt with accordingly.\u003Cstrong> \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Touchless access control\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Access control will probably become the most typical use of facial recognition technology: it limits surface contact (and thus disease transmission) while allowing accelerated admission to office buildings, and can be used in many work-related areas: allowing dedicated team members to enter departments, operate turnstiles, or access other entry points with their face. As face recognition was developed to identify users even with a face mask on, it can be a valuable ally in pandemic situations. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Mask detection\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Facial recognition systems are also capable of recognising people not wearing \u002F not properly wearing a mask in a setting where it is mandatory, and notify the person, or the authorities if necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Does the ‘F’ in FRT stand for friend or foe?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The answer to this question is: it depends on who you are. While using FRT for aiding in identifying medical conditions and providing a safer work environment is laudable, the worrying implications of the same seemingly benevolent technology are manifold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002Fnational-cancer-institute-L8tWZT4CcVQ-unsplash-768x512.jpg\" alt=\"facial recognition doctor phone face human man person\" class=\"wp-image-48577\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002Fnational-cancer-institute-L8tWZT4CcVQ-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002Fnational-cancer-institute-L8tWZT4CcVQ-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002Fnational-cancer-institute-L8tWZT4CcVQ-unsplash-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002Fnational-cancer-institute-L8tWZT4CcVQ-unsplash-scaled.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As the technology picks up steam and gets used more widely by clinics and physicians, the increasing amount of biometric data collected will present a real responsibility for those in its possession. Advertising companies would jump on this gold mine and make offers that many can’t refuse. Hackers will find new content to hold hostage and ask for ransoms. With greater amounts of personal data comes greater responsibility. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The healthcare system will have to double down on its efforts to securely store them and adhere to privacy protection rules like the \u003Ca aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hhs.gov\u002Fhipaa\u002Ffor-professionals\u002Fprivacy\u002Fspecial-topics\u002Fde-identification\u002Findex.html#standard\" target=\"_blank\">Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which protects “full-face photographs and any comparable images”\u003C\u002Fa> and offers the standard for de-identification so that such “health information is not individually identifiable”. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>The inherent bias in databases\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp> Even with tightly controlled security over those data, the database itself might be put into question. As \u003Ca aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fa-i-bias-in-healthcare\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">we discussed extensively in this article\u003C\u002Fa>, the AI behind such technology as facial recognition isn’t immune to human-induced bias. We identified three main reasons behind biased algorithms namely judgmental data sets, deeply ingrained social injustices and unconscious or conscious individual choices. These can subsequently affect the results of diagnostic methods relying on FRT by discriminating against \u003Ca aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fqz.com\u002F1367177\u002Fif-ai-is-going-to-be-the-worlds-doctor-it-needs-better-textbooks\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">patients based on their sex, ethnicity and even their accent\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Even though facial recognition technology has shown impressive usage in healthcare, it still needs to be worked on to be a must-have tool for every physician. It’s just not there yet. It’s one thing to have a wide database to be able to identify conditions from but it’s another to have one which is representative of every human being, irrespective of their background. While definitely a challenging goal and one that will involve complex processes and years of hard work, isn’t this an ideal that we should aim to achieve? \u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":1544,"protected":16},"\u003Cp>Facial recognition technology is upon us; phones and computers can now be unlocked with your specific facial structure using this gimmick, but it can also scarily be used to identify you from security cameras which are increasingly becoming omnipresent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",25353,{"_acf_changed":16,"footnotes":64},[68,5,69,70],[1549,1550,1551,1414,1552],690,764,817,144,[],[],[1556,1557,1558,1559,1433,1560,622],2097,2735,3333,3657,1707,[1562,53,109,110,111,112,113,114,115,116,117,1563,1564,1565,1447,1566],"post-25311","tag-cybersecurity","tag-healthcare-system","tag-security","tag-artificial-intelligence",{"id":1545,"alt_text":64,"caption":64,"description":64,"media_type":142,"media_details":1568,"post":1530,"source_url":1588},{"width":144,"height":145,"file":1569,"sizes":1570,"image_meta":1587},"2019\u002F11\u002F124_tmf_illu.png",{"medium":1571,"large":1574,"thumbnail":1577,"medium_large":1580,"1536x1536":1581,"2048x2048":1584},{"file":1572,"width":177,"height":178,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1573},"124_tmf_illu-370x208.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002F124_tmf_illu-370x208.png",{"file":1575,"width":180,"height":181,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1576},"124_tmf_illu-768x432.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002F124_tmf_illu-768x432.png",{"file":1578,"width":175,"height":175,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1579},"124_tmf_illu-150x150.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002F124_tmf_illu-150x150.png",{"file":1575,"width":180,"height":181,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1576},{"file":1582,"width":510,"height":511,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1583},"124_tmf_illu-1536x864.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002F124_tmf_illu-1536x864.png",{"file":1585,"width":515,"height":516,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1586},"124_tmf_illu-2048x1152.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002F124_tmf_illu-2048x1152.png",{"aperture":186,"credit":64,"camera":64,"caption":64,"created_timestamp":186,"copyright":64,"focal_length":186,"iso":186,"shutter_speed":186,"title":64,"orientation":186},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002F124_tmf_illu-scaled.png",{"cta_type":194,"cta_color":1590,"subtitle":64,"related_books":1591,"related_posts_footer":1592,"related_posts":16},"deeppurple",[196,1194,197],[1593,1594,1595],13650,14848,48505,{"yoast_wpseo_title":1540,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":1597,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":1538},"Facial recognition technology is upon us. It has great merits but can also be used in a number of scary ways hurting our privacy.",{"self":1599,"collection":1604,"about":1606,"author":1608,"replies":1610,"version-history":1613,"predecessor-version":1617,"wp:featuredmedia":1621,"wp:attachment":1624,"wp:term":1627,"curies":1638},[1600],{"href":1601,"targetHints":1602},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F25311",{"allow":1603},[27],[1605],{"href":214},[1607],{"href":217},[1609],{"embeddable":41,"href":1352},[1611],{"embeddable":41,"href":1612},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=25311",[1614],{"count":1615,"href":1616},39,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F25311\u002Frevisions",[1618],{"id":1619,"href":1620},48639,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F25311\u002Frevisions\u002F48639",[1622],{"embeddable":41,"href":1623},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F25353",[1625],{"href":1626},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=25311",[1628,1630,1632,1634,1636],{"taxonomy":11,"embeddable":41,"href":1629},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=25311",{"taxonomy":242,"embeddable":41,"href":1631},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=25311",{"taxonomy":245,"embeddable":41,"href":1633},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=25311",{"taxonomy":248,"embeddable":41,"href":1635},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=25311",{"taxonomy":251,"embeddable":41,"href":1637},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=25311",[1639],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},{"id":1641,"date":1642,"date_gmt":1643,"guid":1644,"modified":1646,"modified_gmt":1647,"slug":1648,"status":52,"type":53,"link":1649,"title":1650,"content":1652,"excerpt":1654,"author":61,"featured_media":1656,"comment_status":63,"ping_status":63,"sticky":41,"template":64,"format":65,"meta":1657,"categories":1658,"tags":1659,"project_category":1661,"contact_email_category":1662,"yst_prominent_words":1663,"class_list":1670,"better_featured_image":1673,"acf":1694,"yoast_meta":1695,"_links":1697},43005,"2022-04-28T10:00:00","2022-04-28T08:00:00",{"rendered":1645},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_id=43005&_wpnonce=8a31914f64&status=auto-draft&type=post","2022-04-25T14:19:48","2022-04-25T12:19:48","how-to-spot-if-your-remote-care-physician-is-an-a-i","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fhow-to-spot-if-your-remote-care-physician-is-an-a-i",{"rendered":1651},"How To Spot If Your Remote Care Physician Is An A.I.?",{"rendered":1653,"protected":16},"\n\u003Cp>I know, this sounds far-fetched, something like a science fiction movie dilemma. But what if it’s not? It is a fact that millions of healthcare workers are missing around the globe. Whether we miss \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.euro.who.int\u002Fen\u002Fhealth-topics\u002FHealth-systems\u002Fhealth-workforce\u002Fdata-and-statistics#:~:text=More%20specifically%20the%20Global%20Strategy,and%20midwives%20globally%20by%202030.\" target=\"_blank\">10 million\u003C\u002Fa> or \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.projecthope.org\u002Fthe-global-health-worker-shortage-10-numbers-to-note\u002F04\u002F2022\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">18 million \u003C\u002Fa>depends on who you ask. We also know that the number of patients in need of healthcare is only growing. And it also seems pretty obvious that with the current medical training models (and healthcare financing) we will never be able to fill this gap. Thus, expecting that A.I. will step in and take over some of the tasks from human practitioners seems only logical. And necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Logical, necessary, but uncanny. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>We slowly grow accustomed to interacting with A.I. Whether it’s the assistant in our phones or a chatbot at a random support service introducing him\u002Fher\u002Fitself as a person but strangely phrasing the same question exactly the same way thrice. After all, ever cheerful Siri failing to understand a fairly simple request is nothing substantial. Terrell – my recent partner in solving a mysterious error of an IT issue – being a bit vacuous is just mildly entertaining or slightly annoying depending on the urgency of the problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"580\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F04\u002Fcombined-fake-human-faces-768x580.jpg\" alt=\"computer A.I. generated human\" class=\"wp-image-43007\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F04\u002Fcombined-fake-human-faces-768x580.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F04\u002Fcombined-fake-human-faces.jpg 1102w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>The only common feature of the people above is that none of them are real. They were randomly generated by clicking refresh on https:\u002F\u002Fthispersondoesnotexist.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>But my doctor? All the A.I. personas I regularly interact with have one thing in common. They are responsible for nothing crucial. Figuring out why the software I use suddenly fails to work with the same files it worked before might seem important(-ish) at the moment, but it does not require my trust. I might raise an eyebrow when it dawns on me that Terrell is not a human, and the company failed to inform me of this fact, but who cares.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dr. A.I. and my trust issues\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>A.I. and deep fake personas are getting\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fthispersondoesnotexist.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> more and more convincing\u003C\u002Fa>. Just as the flirty ‘actress’\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=gS1m_TIxEW0&t=114s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> in this video\u003C\u002Fa> sounds \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2022\u002F2\u002F17\u002F22936978\u002Fai-voice-speech-synthesis-audio-deepfake-sonantic-flirtation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">human enough\u003C\u002Fa>, in a few years we can expect to video chat with an A.I. looking every bit as human as your doctor. And based on how some companies and service providers like to trick you into believing their chatbot is a real person, we can pretty much expect the same for Dr. A.I. provided to you by your medical insurance company, answering your questions about the symptoms you experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"What's Her Secret?\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FgS1m_TIxEW0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It would be nice to know that this is an impossible scenario, and regulators will make sure you can never find yourself in a situation like the one I described above. But this might be a bit too optimistic, and I think we better prepare ourselves for a brave new world where spotting a deep fake human becomes an important skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Not because I don’t trust that medical A.I. will become competent enough to deal with a great number of basic scenarios. It surely will. Most probably, even today a hefty share of our health questions could be handled efficiently by an algorithm. But a patient-doctor relationship is a unique one as it requires trust above anything else. And \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjamanetwork.com\u002Fjournals\u002Fjama\u002Ffullarticle\u002F194300\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">empathic reflection\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Knowing that I interact with Dr. A.I. would be much better than having to guess it. Thinking that I’m talking to a doctor and realising mid-process that this is not the case is the worst scenario I can imagine regarding my trust-in-healthcare issues. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>So, how can we prepare for a future when we might need the skill to decide if we are talking to a deep fake doctor instead of the real one?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Start training yourself now by catching A.I. chatbots\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Even though we are not there yet, you should start practising. Interact with chatbots, with virtual assistants, and take mental notes on the telltale signs helping you spot they are not human. What kinds are the questions they have difficulties interpreting? How do they react to a word joke or to a seemingly irrelevant remark? Can you get them in a repetitive cycle? Do their answers vary to the same question phrased in slightly different ways? Can they explain something in other words? Do they adequately relate to your expressed emotions? Are they able to convincingly reply to how they would feel in your situation? Do they have an opinion on something that is not related to the issue on hand? These are just a few hints, work on your methods, and find the ways helping you the most. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Practise how to spot deep fake\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Norton has a \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fus.norton.com\u002Finternetsecurity-emerging-threats-how-to-spot-deepfakes.html\" target=\"_blank\">helpful list\u003C\u002Fa> on how to spot deep fake videos. Of the 15 tricks they listed, we believe these are especially important, and most likely the easiest to spot. Our Dr. A.I. will most likely be fully computer-generated, but learning to keep an eye on the details of something you see on a screen will be useful. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\u003Cli>Unnatural eye movements or lack of natural eye movements, such as blinking. Natural eye movement is challenging to replicate. When something about the eyes seems off, it is always a red flag\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Unnatural facial expressions – likewise, facial morphing (when the facial images of two or more individuals are combined) often results in a slightly uncomfortable feeling of something being just not right, always look for it!\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Blurring or misalignment – especially around the edges of a person or an object can also be a sign of merging body parts or objects that originally did not go together\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Hair, teeth or other small details that don’t look real. All right, the extreme effort celebrities put into their hairstyling might make this a bit more difficult, but the lack of natural hair texture, the complete absence of any frizziness or loose strands can also be a warning, just as weird-looking, shape-shifting teeth.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The problem is of course, that some of these signs are not very difficult to spot if you purposefully look for them, but most of us do not put in that kind of effort in a casually watched video. But in the era of the flat earth – we should.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Be mindful if you are passed over to someone else \u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>A very common solution for any chatbot \u002F assistant presented as a real human is that they will refer you to a different ‘colleague’ – a real human – if you start questioning whether they are a person or a robot. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Of course, it is quite difficult to predict how convincing the future Dr. A.I. will be – as we are not there yet, and the field is developing with amazing speed. And while on one hand, we are increasingly aware of the presence and capacity of deepfake, developers – most of whom work without a hint of malice – will do everything to do as perfectly as possible. A bit like the constant race between the manufacturers of armors and ammo, spotting and hiding an A.I. parading as a real person will be an ever-evolving battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\u003Cp>The moral of the story obviously is not that A.I. shouldn’t have a place in future medicine. It should. It will be the best solution for many areas with significant capacity shortages. But preparing for a scenario when we will have to decide whether to trust the doctor on the screen is real or not is a must. \u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n",{"rendered":1655,"protected":16},"\u003Cp>Medical A.I. will surely become competent enough to efficiently deal with a great number of health questions. But tricking patients into believing they interact with a human practitioner when they are not is an entirely different issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",27309,{"_acf_changed":16,"footnotes":64},[600,68,5,274,69,601],[1660,1552,1273,83],7561,[90],[],[1664,1665,1666,1433,95,1667,898,1668,1669,619],4847,6097,1661,1899,3619,4103,[1671,53,109,110,111,112,113,625,114,115,314,116,627,1672,1566,1296,129,135],"post-43005","tag-a-i-doctor",{"id":1656,"alt_text":1674,"caption":64,"description":64,"media_type":142,"media_details":1675,"post":1692,"source_url":1693},"telemedicine and COVID-19",{"width":144,"height":145,"file":1676,"sizes":1677,"image_meta":1691},"2020\u002F03\u002FCOVID-telemed-small.jpg",{"medium":1678,"large":1681,"thumbnail":1684,"medium_large":1687,"1536x1536":1688},{"file":1679,"width":177,"height":178,"mime-type":343,"source_url":1680},"COVID-telemed-small-370x208.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F03\u002FCOVID-telemed-small-370x208.jpg",{"file":1682,"width":180,"height":181,"mime-type":343,"source_url":1683},"COVID-telemed-small-768x432.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F03\u002FCOVID-telemed-small-768x432.jpg",{"file":1685,"width":175,"height":175,"mime-type":343,"source_url":1686},"COVID-telemed-small-150x150.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F03\u002FCOVID-telemed-small-150x150.jpg",{"file":1682,"width":180,"height":181,"mime-type":343,"source_url":1683},{"file":1689,"width":510,"height":511,"mime-type":343,"source_url":1690},"COVID-telemed-small-1536x864.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F03\u002FCOVID-telemed-small-1536x864.jpg",{"aperture":186,"credit":64,"camera":64,"caption":64,"created_timestamp":186,"copyright":64,"focal_length":186,"iso":186,"shutter_speed":186,"title":64,"orientation":186},27293,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F03\u002FCOVID-telemed-small.jpg",{"cta_type":64,"cta_color":64,"subtitle":64,"related_books":16,"related_posts_footer":16,"related_posts":16},{"yoast_wpseo_title":1651,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":1696,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":1649},"Medical A.I. will become competent enoug. But tricking patients into believing they interact with a human practitioner is an entirely different issue.",{"self":1698,"collection":1703,"about":1705,"author":1707,"replies":1709,"version-history":1712,"predecessor-version":1716,"wp:featuredmedia":1720,"wp:attachment":1723,"wp:term":1726,"curies":1737},[1699],{"href":1700,"targetHints":1701},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F43005",{"allow":1702},[27],[1704],{"href":214},[1706],{"href":217},[1708],{"embeddable":41,"href":220},[1710],{"embeddable":41,"href":1711},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=43005",[1713],{"count":1714,"href":1715},12,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F43005\u002Frevisions",[1717],{"id":1718,"href":1719},43115,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F43005\u002Frevisions\u002F43115",[1721],{"embeddable":41,"href":1722},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F27309",[1724],{"href":1725},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=43005",[1727,1729,1731,1733,1735],{"taxonomy":11,"embeddable":41,"href":1728},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=43005",{"taxonomy":242,"embeddable":41,"href":1730},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=43005",{"taxonomy":245,"embeddable":41,"href":1732},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=43005",{"taxonomy":248,"embeddable":41,"href":1734},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=43005",{"taxonomy":251,"embeddable":41,"href":1736},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=43005",[1738],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},{"id":1740,"date":1741,"date_gmt":1742,"guid":1743,"modified":1745,"modified_gmt":1746,"slug":1747,"status":52,"type":53,"link":1748,"title":1749,"content":1751,"excerpt":1753,"author":400,"featured_media":62,"comment_status":63,"ping_status":63,"sticky":41,"template":64,"format":65,"meta":1755,"categories":1756,"tags":1758,"project_category":1761,"contact_email_category":1762,"yst_prominent_words":1763,"class_list":1764,"better_featured_image":1769,"acf":1784,"yoast_meta":1785,"_links":1788},37617,"2022-01-18T10:00:00","2022-01-18T09:00:00",{"rendered":1744},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_id=37617&_wpnonce=afb497010a&status=auto-draft&type=post","2022-01-18T09:26:45","2022-01-18T08:26:45","technology-and-euthanasia","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ftechnology-and-euthanasia",{"rendered":1750},"The Potential Role Of Technology In Euthanasia And Assisted Death",{"rendered":1752,"protected":16},"\n\u003Cp>In early 2021, Spanish lawmakers \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapnews.com\u002Farticle\u002Feurope-legislation-assisted-suicide-euthanasia-bills-49516fa35c6ae50b9be885df8506fa91\" target=\"_blank\">legalised euthanasia and assisted death\u003C\u002Fa> for patients suffering from unbearable and\u002For incurable conditions, making Spain \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bmj.com\u002Fcontent\u002F372\u002Fbmj.n147\" target=\"_blank\">the sixth country in the world\u003C\u002Fa> to do so. Prior to this move, the Netherlands \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapnews.com\u002Farticle\u002Feurope-health-courts-dementia-euthanasia-1ed45f0819e788708da51d161b48e9f8\" target=\"_blank\">expanded the eligibility to euthanasia\u003C\u002Fa> to include advanced dementia patients, provided they made an earlier written request.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Following the new law in Spain, Health Minister \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapnews.com\u002Farticle\u002Feurope-legislation-assisted-suicide-euthanasia-bills-49516fa35c6ae50b9be885df8506fa91\" target=\"_blank\">Carolina Darias said\u003C\u002Fa> that “we are heading towards a more humane and fair society”. She further praised this acknowledgement of the right to an assisted death as a crucial move “towards the recognition of human rights”.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As countries tend to legalise euthanasia and assisted death, it is only a matter of time before technology comes into the picture; especially given that we are in the digital health age. Indeed, in December 2021, news emerged about an organisation \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.swissinfo.ch\u002Feng\u002Fsarco-suicide-capsule--passes-legal-review--in-switzerland\u002F46966510\" target=\"_blank\">developing a 3D-printed capsule\u003C\u002Fa> destined for use in peaceful assisted suicide; without the need for a professional and that may legally be operated in the country. The developers aim to de-medicalise the dying process and even plan to integrate an artificial intelligence system to gauge the person’s mental capacity before they can employ the device.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F01\u002Fsarco-suicide-capsule-sample-768x432.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-37707\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F01\u002Fsarco-suicide-capsule-sample-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F01\u002Fsarco-suicide-capsule-sample-370x208.jpg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F01\u002Fsarco-suicide-capsule-sample.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: https:\u002F\u002Fwww.thetimes.co.uk\u002F\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While euthanasia and assisted death are sensitive topics to discuss, the genesis of so-called “tech-assisted dying” makes them a timely matter. Such novel methods will surely generate a host of legal and ethical issues to which we might not have definitive answers now. But this article contemplates the role of technology in euthanasia and assisted dying, as we might increasingly deal with the topic in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Euthanasia, assisted dying and assisted suicide\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While they have different meanings, “euthanasia”, “assisted dying” and “assisted suicide” are often used interchangeably. For the sake of simplicity, we will also use the terms interchangeably here, but it could help to know more about the differences between them. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Dr. Andrew McGee, an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at the Queensland University of Technology, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftheconversation.com\u002Fin-places-where-its-legal-how-many-people-are-ending-their-lives-using-euthanasia-73755\" target=\"_blank\">describes\u003C\u002Fa> “assisted dying” (or “assisted death”) where a medication that speeds up the process of dying is ultimately taken by the patient. He highlights that this process involves people who are already dying. On the other hand, “assisted suicide” also involves people without terminal disease but getting assistance to commit suicide. As for “euthanasia”, Dr McGee points out that it involves a physician administering the drug to the patient. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"414\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F12\u002Feuthanasia-img-768x414.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-37629\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F12\u002Feuthanasia-img-768x414.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F12\u002Feuthanasia-img-1536x827.jpg 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F12\u002Feuthanasia-img-2048x1103.jpg 2048w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F12\u002Feuthanasia-img.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dailymaverick.co.za\u002F\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Countries and states have different reasons to allow for legally accepted euthanasia. Some researchers \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002F27380345\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">have found\u003C\u002Fa> that in some U. S. states, the loss of autonomy and dignity are dominant motives for physician-assisted suicide. However, for those with similar woes but living in areas without the right to an assisted death, could technology become their assistant?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Technology assisting the dying process\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Packing an aesthetic that feels reminiscent of the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Falienanthology.fandom.com\u002Fwiki\u002FHypersleep_Chamber\" target=\"_blank\">hypersleep chambers in the movie \u003Cem>Alien\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fa>, the futuristic-looking \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.exitinternational.net\u002Fsarco\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Sarco assisted suicide pod\u003C\u002Fa> was designed to suggest a trip to a new destination. As its name implies, it is a one-way destination. It aims to provide conditions for a “peaceful, even euphoric death” to those in need of assisted death in a legal way; while not requiring the assistance of a doctor. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“It’s a 3-D printed capsule, activated from the inside by the person intending to die,” \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.swissinfo.ch\u002Feng\u002Fsarco-suicide-capsule--passes-legal-review--in-switzerland\u002F46966510\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">explains Philip Nitschke\u003C\u002Fa>, founder of Exit International which is developing Sarco. After answering some questions, the person can activate the machine which will fill the pod with nitrogen and reduce the oxygen level. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“The person will feel a little disoriented and may feel slightly euphoric before they lose consciousness,” adds Nitschke. “Death takes place through hypoxia and hypocapnia, oxygen and carbon dioxide deprivation, respectively. There is no panic, no choking feeling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\u002F\u002Fvimeo.com\u002F333502917\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>There are \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.exitinternational.net\u002Fsarco\u002Fportable\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">plans to integrate eye or voice control\u003C\u002Fa> to activate the pod as means of improving accessibility. The upper part is detachable \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.exitinternational.net\u002Fsarco\u002Fcoffin-incorpoated\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">to double as a coffin\u003C\u002Fa>. Exit International further \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.swissinfo.ch\u002Feng\u002Fsarco-suicide-capsule--passes-legal-review--in-switzerland\u002F46966510\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">plans to develop an A.I. system\u003C\u002Fa> to determine the person’s mental capacity; following which they can be granted an access code to the Sarco.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While the Sarco isn’t available for sale or use, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapnews.com\u002Farticle\u002Ffact-checking-993202650845\" target=\"_blank\">Nitschke expects\u003C\u002Fa> a working pod to be ready in early 2022. He is even hoping to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.swissinfo.ch\u002Feng\u002Fsarco-suicide-capsule--passes-legal-review--in-switzerland\u002F46966510\">put it to\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.swissinfo.ch\u002Feng\u002Fsarco-suicide-capsule--passes-legal-review--in-switzerland\u002F46966510\" target=\"_blank\"> \u003C\u002Fa>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.swissinfo.ch\u002Feng\u002Fsarco-suicide-capsule--passes-legal-review--in-switzerland\u002F46966510\">use in Switzerland\u003C\u002Fa>, where he found \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapnews.com\u002Farticle\u002Ffact-checking-993202650845\">no legal is\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapnews.com\u002Farticle\u002Ffact-checking-993202650845\" target=\"_blank\">s\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapnews.com\u002Farticle\u002Ffact-checking-993202650845\">ues \u003C\u002Fa>for the operation of Sarco. The legality of Sarco’s use relies on the fact that it doesn’t require any assistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>De-medicalising the dying process or treading on thin ice?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While the Sarco might be among tech’s first foray in assisted dying, it might not be the last one. Exit International \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.exitinternational.net\u002Fsarco\u002F3d-printed\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">plans to make\u003C\u002Fa> the pod’s blueprint available online for 3D printing. This could lead to large-scale availability of Sarco-like devices and what we could term as “tech-assisted dying”. And with such a new term comes new considerations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>With Sarco, Exit International aims to de-medicalise the dying process.  “Currently a doctor or doctors need to be involved to prescribe the sodium pentobarbital and to confirm the person’s mental capacity,” \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.swissinfo.ch\u002Feng\u002Fsarco-suicide-capsule--passes-legal-review--in-switzerland\u002F46966510\" target=\"_blank\">says founder Philip Nitschke\u003C\u002Fa>. “We want to remove any kind of psychiatric review from the process and allow the individual to control the method themselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"511\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F12\u002Fsarco-assisted-dying-capsule-768x511.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-37621\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F12\u002Fsarco-assisted-dying-capsule-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F12\u002Fsarco-assisted-dying-capsule.jpg 1206w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>The Sarco assisted suicide pod\u003Cbr>Source: https:\u002F\u002Fwww.swissinfo.ch\u002F\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>If such tech-assisted solutions to expand access to the dying process become more widespread, the medical and legal sectors will face a host of issues. Who can use or 3D print such devices? When and where can they use it? It could ease the psychological burden on medical professionals by having an automated system assist patients requesting euthanasia. But is this an ethical decision? Maybe patients would favour such a method when they are in unbearable pain and wish for a peaceful death but have no option for euthanasia in their country of residence or are constrained by the bureaucracies involved. And how receptive will society at large be to such a tool?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Those are some of the pressing questions that policymakers will need to address as euthanasia and assisted death take a technological approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Deciding how and when we die\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, such ethical, legal, social implications might still be some years off. There aren’t many units of Sarco available, let alone operational. The first one \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.exitinternational.net\u002Fsarco\u002Fsarcomuseum-for-sepulchral-culture\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">is on display\u003C\u002Fa> at the Museum for Sepulchral Culture in Kassel, Germany. The second prototype \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.swissinfo.ch\u002Feng\u002Fsarco-suicide-capsule--passes-legal-review--in-switzerland\u002F46966510\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">wasn’t deemed aesthetically pleasing\u003C\u002Fa> and hasn’t been publicly displayed. The third machine is expected to be operational in 2022.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Several of Sarco’s supplementary projects have been delayed due to the [Covid-19] pandemic,” \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.swissinfo.ch\u002Feng\u002Fsarco-suicide-capsule--passes-legal-review--in-switzerland\u002F46966510\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">added Nitschke\u003C\u002Fa>. “For instance, the development of a camera that allows the person to communicate with the people outside. There needs to be a recording of the person’s informed consent. This has been commissioned and the next step is to get it manufactured.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Chr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\u002F>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>But even if Sarco might be facing hurdles of its own, we need to generate discussions about the implications of such technologies because one day, healthcare might become so efficient that we might need to decide when and how we die. It’s a bit far-fetched but we never know; so we might as well be prepared to face such bioethical considerations.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>Written by Dr. Bertalan Meskó & Dr. Pranavsingh Dhunnoo\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFIbMejImnxs\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":1754,"protected":16},"\u003Cp>In early 2021, Spanish lawmakers legalised euthanasia and assisted death for patients suffering from unbearable and\u002For incurable conditions, making Spain the sixth country in the […]\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"_acf_changed":16,"footnotes":64},[1134,1757,5,444,1139],4879,[894,1759,1760],7497,7499,[89,750,90,91,92],[],[],[1765,53,109,110,111,112,113,1154,1766,115,478,1159,912,1767,1768,134,783,135,136,137],"post-37617","category-lifestyle-medicine","tag-euthanasia","tag-assisted-dying",{"id":62,"alt_text":139,"caption":140,"description":141,"media_type":142,"media_details":1770,"post":44,"source_url":188},{"width":144,"height":145,"file":146,"sizes":1771,"image_meta":1782},{"medium":1772,"large":1773,"thumbnail":1774,"medium_large":1775,"1536x1536":1776,"large_old_512x288":1777,"thumbnail_old_150x150":1778,"medium_old_370x208":1779,"medium_large_old_768x432":1780,"large_old_512x288_old_512x288":1781},{"file":149,"width":150,"height":151,"mime-type":152,"source_url":153},{"file":155,"width":156,"height":157,"mime-type":152,"source_url":158},{"file":160,"width":161,"height":161,"mime-type":152,"source_url":162},{"file":155,"width":156,"height":157,"mime-type":152,"source_url":158},{"file":165,"width":166,"height":167,"mime-type":152,"source_url":168},{"file":170,"width":171,"height":172,"mime-type":152,"source_url":173},{"file":160,"width":175,"height":175,"mime-type":152,"source_url":162},{"file":149,"width":177,"height":178,"mime-type":152,"source_url":153},{"file":155,"width":180,"height":181,"mime-type":152,"source_url":158},{"file":170,"width":183,"height":184,"mime-type":152,"source_url":173},{"aperture":186,"credit":64,"camera":64,"caption":64,"created_timestamp":186,"copyright":64,"focal_length":186,"iso":186,"shutter_speed":186,"title":64,"orientation":186,"keywords":1783},[],{"cta_type":64,"cta_color":64,"subtitle":64,"related_books":16,"related_posts_footer":16,"related_posts":16},{"yoast_wpseo_title":1786,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":1787,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":1748},"The Potential Role Of Technology In Euthanasia And Assisted Death - The Medical Futurist","Although they are sensitive topics to discuss, the rise of “tech-assisted dying” makes the concepts of euthanasia and assisted death a timely matter.",{"self":1789,"collection":1794,"about":1796,"author":1798,"replies":1800,"version-history":1803,"predecessor-version":1807,"wp:featuredmedia":1811,"wp:attachment":1813,"wp:term":1816,"curies":1827},[1790],{"href":1791,"targetHints":1792},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F37617",{"allow":1793},[27],[1795],{"href":214},[1797],{"href":217},[1799],{"embeddable":41,"href":1352},[1801],{"embeddable":41,"href":1802},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=37617",[1804],{"count":1805,"href":1806},17,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F37617\u002Frevisions",[1808],{"id":1809,"href":1810},37951,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F37617\u002Frevisions\u002F37951",[1812],{"embeddable":41,"href":234},[1814],{"href":1815},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=37617",[1817,1819,1821,1823,1825],{"taxonomy":11,"embeddable":41,"href":1818},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=37617",{"taxonomy":242,"embeddable":41,"href":1820},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=37617",{"taxonomy":245,"embeddable":41,"href":1822},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=37617",{"taxonomy":248,"embeddable":41,"href":1824},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=37617",{"taxonomy":251,"embeddable":41,"href":1826},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=37617",[1828],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},{"id":1830,"date":1831,"date_gmt":1832,"guid":1833,"modified":1835,"modified_gmt":1836,"slug":1837,"status":52,"type":53,"link":1838,"title":1839,"content":1841,"excerpt":1843,"author":61,"featured_media":1845,"comment_status":63,"ping_status":63,"sticky":41,"template":64,"format":65,"meta":1846,"categories":1847,"tags":1848,"project_category":1855,"contact_email_category":1856,"yst_prominent_words":1857,"class_list":1860,"better_featured_image":1868,"acf":1890,"yoast_meta":1894,"_links":1897},21234,"2021-12-07T10:00:00","2021-12-07T09:00:00",{"rendered":1834},"http:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F","2021-12-08T20:16:30","2021-12-08T19:16:30","why-an-upgraded-hippocratic-oath-is-needed-in-the-digital-era","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fwhy-an-upgraded-hippocratic-oath-is-needed-in-the-digital-era",{"rendered":1840},"An Upgraded Hippocratic Oath Is Needed In The Digital And A.I. Era",{"rendered":1842,"protected":16},"\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>The Hippocratic Oath is the most famous text in Western medicine. It constitutes the ethical basis of the medical profession. For centuries, it has provided an overview of the principles of this noble mission and doctors’ professional behaviour. At the dawn of a new era in medicine, it is high time to rewrite the Oath so that it would reflect the state of technological development, changes in social structures and in general, the requirements of the 21st century.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>These are our suggestions.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Chr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\u002F>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>What is the Hippocratic Oath?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Used by many medical schools at graduation ceremonies, the medical profession adopted the Oath of Hippocrates as its ethical code of conduct centuries ago. That’s not a mere chance. The text articulates perfectly what the noble profession of being a doctor entails and in a compact overview takes a side in every major ethical issue a physician might encounter during their career.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cbr>Only a few know that although the oath bears the name of Hippocrates, the well-known Greek physician, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.pbs.org\u002Fwgbh\u002Fnova\u002Fdoctors\u002Foath_doctors.html\">there is no evidence that he wrote it\u003C\u002Fa>. It is claimed that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002Fpmc\u002Farticles\u002FPMC5755201\u002F#ref7\">the document was created 100 years after his death\u003C\u002Fa>; still some 2500 years ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone wp-image-21241 size-full\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"369\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F07\u002Fhippocrates_header.jpg\" alt=\"Original Hippocratic oath\" class=\"wp-image-21241\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F07\u002Fhippocrates_header.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F07\u002Fhippocrates_header-768x326.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F07\u002Fhippocrates_header-512x217.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: https:\u002F\u002Fbrianpagan.net\u002F2010\u002Ffirst-do-no-harm-towards-a-hippocratic-oath-for-designers\u002F\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>What does the Hippocratic Oath mean today?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The majority of physicians believe the Oath still has relevance today, although opinions are extremely divided. In 2016, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.medscape.com\u002Fviewarticle\u002F872234\">Medscape had a poll\u003C\u002Fa> to measure opinions about the relevance of Hippocrates’ pledge. Total responses to the survey numbered 2674 physicians plus 134 medical students. Reactions were deeply polarized, and age was a decisive factor. Of those under age 34, 39% said it was significant, compared with 70% of those 65 and older.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Still, statistics show that the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.sciencedirect.com\u002Fscience\u002Farticle\u002Fpii\u002FS2352452916300470\">majority of medical schools incorporate some kind of oath\u003C\u002Fa>, giving ethical guidelines to future doctors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Treating the ill to the best of one’s ability, preserving a patient’s privacy or teaching medicine to the next generation are all increasingly important matters in medicine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Therefore we suggest some changes to the original Hippocratic Oath to better reflect the 21st century.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Need For A New Hippocratic Oath - The Medical Futurist\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FJimEmzj272Y?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>The principles of the Hippocratic Oath – renewed\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>1) Patient inclusion\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The scientific community does not only consist of physicians: medical researchers, nurses and patients must be included – also symbolically.  Doctors are not the sole repositories of medical knowledge, and the ivory tower of medicine is crumbling under the weight of the digital sphere, social media, empowered patients or the DIY movement. The Hippocratic Oath should reflect that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-large is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\u003Cp>“I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians, patients and researchers in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>2) Healthcare must shift from treatment to prevention\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>With the recent advances in precision medicine as well as the appearance of preventive and lifestyle health, healthcare should have responses for the ill and the healthy alike. Advising on how to stay fit and well for the healthy is just as important as recommending treatments for the sick. The appearance of health sensors, wearables, and health apps results in new ways of prevention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It also results in a massive chunk of data medical professionals should be able to use. This data will help analyse as well as predict trends in the health of individuals and populations, so the Oath should change accordingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-large is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\u003Cp> “I will apply, for the benefit of the healthy and the sick, all measures [that] are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3) Acknowledgment for technologies\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Technologies also need to be reflected in such a pledge. Physicians need to acknowledge the raison d’etre of technologies in healing, and one of the means to assume its rightful place in medicine starts with its inclusion into the Hippocratic Oath. It has to acknowledge the transformative impact that medical technologies have on healthcare – traditional as well as digital solutions. However, as artificial intelligence, robotics, AR\u002FVR, health apps, wearables, sensors, portable diagnostic devices transform healthcare, that will be even more essential. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>So, what if the oath said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-large is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\u003Cp> “I will remember that there is an art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon’s knife, the programmer’s algorithm or the chemist’s drug.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>I will help prevent disease whenever I can with my knowledge and available technologies, for prevention is preferable to cure. ”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F03\u002Fsmall-768x432.png\" alt=\"medical bag of the 21st century\" class=\"wp-image-26553\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F03\u002Fsmall-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F03\u002Fsmall-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F03\u002Fsmall-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F03\u002Fsmall-512x288.png 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F03\u002Fsmall.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>The 7 Must-Haves For The Doctor Of the 21st Century \u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>4) Recognition of life-long learning\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Besides mentioning technologies, it’s also critical to use the latest innovations. That requires openness towards new concepts, ideas or medical devices, which seems to be evident for many physicians, but is not practised in the medical community as often as it should be. Maybe a kind reminder in the oath could give at least a symbolic boost to life-long learning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-large is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\u003Cp>“I will embrace life-long learning to continually improve my knowledge and skills to be able to use any technologies with scientific evidence for the benefit of my patients.”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>5) The inclusion\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong> of equal-level partnership\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Access to information and technologies is not a privilege of physicians sitting in the ivory tower anymore. Patients also have access to information about drugs, cures, methods online, and with a pinch of digital literacy, anyone can find curated and credible medical data online. This started to shift the hierarchical patient-doctor relationship into a collaborative partnership in the future. The oath has to address the changing social relations within the structure of the medical system, and therefore The Medical Futurist suggests the inclusion of the following:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-large is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\u003Cp>“I will treat my patients in an equal-level partnership, and I will not be ashamed to say “\u003Cem>I know not,\u003C\u002Fem>” nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient’s recovery.”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>6) Addressing privacy concerns\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Respecting patients’ privacy is a primary passage in the Oath. However, there is no indication of data privacy anywhere. Sure, there was no need for it 2,000 years ago as Odysseus did not check in to Facebook day after day when heading home to Ithaca, but that’s not the case today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>According to Statista, in 2018, about 2,314 exabytes of new data could be generated worldwide in 2020. The need for safeguarding that amount of information is paramount, so we need to include it in the Oath. How about the following solution?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-large is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\u003Cp>“I will respect the privacy of my patients and their data, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know.“\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F0925_privacy_ebook_cover-768x432.png\" alt=\"The Medical Futurist's Handbook for all things in healthcare privacy\" class=\"wp-image-30351\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F0925_privacy_ebook_cover-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F0925_privacy_ebook_cover-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F0925_privacy_ebook_cover-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F0925_privacy_ebook_cover.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Will regulators and policymakers step up for our privacy or are we expected to give away our data to companies?\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7) Artificial Intelligence In Medicine\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>A.I. has a vast potential to automate processes in healthcare. We can expect dramatic changes in care, with A.I. systems to excel at a specific task and healthcare professionals to increasingly interact with them. But what we always highlight is that A.I. will never replace medical professionals. But those physicians who use and embrace A.I. will replace those that do not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-large is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\u003Cp>“I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, or an algorithm’s suggestion but a sick human being.”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"has-text-align-left\">The Medical Futurist strongly believes that it is high time to adjust the Hippocratic Oath to the winds of change, so younger physicians could better relate to its overall principles, and older physicians could take more inspiration to work from it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Chr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\u002F>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">So here’s the revised Hippocratic Oath, as recommended by The Medical Futurist:\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians, patients and researchers in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>I will apply, for the benefit of the healthy and sick, all measures [that] are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon’s knife or the chemist’s drug.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>I will treat my patients in an equal-level partnership, and\u003C\u002Fem> I will not be ashamed to say \u003Cem>“I know not\u003C\u002Fem>,” nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient’s recovery.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>I will embrace life-long learning to constantly improve my knowledge and skills to be able to use any technologies with scientific evidence for the benefit of my patients.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>I will respect the privacy of my patients \u003Cem>and their data\u003C\u002Fem>, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person’s family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>I will help prevent disease whenever I can \u003Cem>with my knowledge and available technologies \u003C\u002Fem>for prevention is preferable to cure. \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"has-text-align-left\">\u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Feepurl.com\u002FZejiT\">\u003Cb>Subscribe To The Medical Futurist℠ Newsletter\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\u003Cli style=\"text-align: left;\">News shaping the future of healthcare\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli style=\"text-align: left;\">Advice on taking charge of your health\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli style=\"text-align: left;\">Reviews of the latest health technology\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\n",{"rendered":1844,"protected":16},"\u003Cp>The Hippocratic Oath is the most famous text in Western medicine. It constitutes the ethical basis of the medical profession. For centuries, it has provided […]\u003C\u002Fp>\n",21238,{"_acf_changed":16,"footnotes":64},[5,69,1140],[1273,1849,457,1850,83,889,84,1851,277,1852,1853,1854,85],783,818,981,982,308,983,[1426,750],[],[1858,95,1859],2003,2001,[1861,53,109,110,111,112,113,115,116,1160,1296,1862,490,1863,129,907,130,1864,316,1865,1866,1867,131,1458,783],"post-21234","tag-med-student","tag-meded","tag-hippocratic-oath","tag-oath","tag-medical-education","tag-code-of-conduct",{"id":1845,"alt_text":1869,"caption":64,"description":1870,"media_type":142,"media_details":1871,"post":1830,"source_url":1889},"TMF, New hippocratic oath tmf","TMF",{"width":787,"height":788,"file":1872,"sizes":1873,"image_meta":1887},"2018\u002F07\u002Fnew-hippocratic-oath.png",{"medium":1874,"large":1877,"thumbnail":1880,"medium_large":1883,"large_old_512x288":1884},{"file":1875,"width":150,"height":151,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1876},"new-hippocratic-oath-370x208.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F07\u002Fnew-hippocratic-oath-370x208.png",{"file":1878,"width":156,"height":157,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1879},"new-hippocratic-oath-768x432.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F07\u002Fnew-hippocratic-oath-768x432.png",{"file":1881,"width":161,"height":161,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1882},"new-hippocratic-oath-150x150.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F07\u002Fnew-hippocratic-oath-150x150.png",{"file":1878,"width":156,"height":157,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1879},{"file":1885,"width":171,"height":172,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1886},"new-hippocratic-oath-512x288.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F07\u002Fnew-hippocratic-oath-512x288.png",{"aperture":186,"credit":64,"camera":64,"caption":64,"created_timestamp":186,"copyright":64,"focal_length":186,"iso":186,"shutter_speed":186,"title":64,"orientation":186,"keywords":1888},[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F07\u002Fnew-hippocratic-oath.png",{"related_posts":16,"related_posts_footer":1891,"cta_type":194,"cta_color":64,"subtitle":64,"related_books":16},[1892,192,1893],21197,37053,{"yoast_wpseo_title":1895,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":1896,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":1838},"Hippocratic Oath 2.0 - Principles of the New Hippocratic Oath","Hippocratic Oath 2.0: It's time to rewrite the Hippocratic Oath so it meets the requirements of the 21st century. Read the Hippocratic Oath 2.0",{"self":1898,"collection":1903,"about":1905,"author":1907,"replies":1909,"version-history":1912,"predecessor-version":1915,"wp:featuredmedia":1919,"wp:attachment":1922,"wp:term":1925,"curies":1936},[1899],{"href":1900,"targetHints":1901},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F21234",{"allow":1902},[27],[1904],{"href":214},[1906],{"href":217},[1908],{"embeddable":41,"href":220},[1910],{"embeddable":41,"href":1911},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=21234",[1913],{"count":692,"href":1914},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F21234\u002Frevisions",[1916],{"id":1917,"href":1918},37441,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F21234\u002Frevisions\u002F37441",[1920],{"embeddable":41,"href":1921},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F21238",[1923],{"href":1924},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=21234",[1926,1928,1930,1932,1934],{"taxonomy":11,"embeddable":41,"href":1927},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=21234",{"taxonomy":242,"embeddable":41,"href":1929},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=21234",{"taxonomy":245,"embeddable":41,"href":1931},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=21234",{"taxonomy":248,"embeddable":41,"href":1933},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=21234",{"taxonomy":251,"embeddable":41,"href":1935},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=21234",[1937],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},{"id":1939,"date":1940,"date_gmt":1941,"guid":1942,"modified":1944,"modified_gmt":1945,"slug":1946,"status":52,"type":53,"link":1947,"title":1948,"content":1950,"excerpt":1952,"author":61,"featured_media":1954,"comment_status":63,"ping_status":63,"sticky":41,"template":64,"format":65,"meta":1955,"categories":1956,"tags":1957,"project_category":1963,"contact_email_category":1964,"yst_prominent_words":1965,"class_list":1970,"better_featured_image":1977,"acf":2000,"yoast_meta":2005,"_links":2008},23180,"2021-09-07T11:12:00","2021-09-07T09:12:00",{"rendered":1943},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_id=23180&_wpnonce=8f160d1a86&status=auto-draft&type=post","2021-09-16T10:48:25","2021-09-16T08:48:25","facebook-in-healthcare","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ffacebook-in-healthcare",{"rendered":1949},"Is There A Place For Facebook In Healthcare?",{"rendered":1951,"protected":16},"\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Data privacy scandals, help in rigging elections, spreading fake news on COVID and vaccines: Facebook has been through a lot and users are not happy with the performance of the social media giant. However, Mark Zuckerberg’s company does not only have a political and social impact, but it’s also getting quite relevant in healthcare.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>We looked around what Facebook currently does in healthcare and evaluated whether those are viable ways to follow in the future. \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Chr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\u002F>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Facebook: from trust issues to healthcare\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The social media machine built on \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fcommentisfree\u002F2017\u002Fnov\u002F19\u002Fhow-tech-leaders-delivered-us-into-evil-john-naughton\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">“\u003Cem>sophisticated, computer-driven engines for extracting users’ personal information and data trails\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fa>“, found itself in the middle of social and political debates as it failed to take into consideration its influence on its users – be it individuals, companies, publishers or nations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>From the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nytimes.com\u002F2018\u002F04\u002F04\u002Fus\u002Fpolitics\u002Fcambridge-analytica-scandal-fallout.html\" target=\"_blank\">Cambridge Analytica scandal\u003C\u002Fa> through the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapnews.com\u002Farticle\u002Ffacebook-ban-trump-timeline-e1ce70879eca7cfa3a28f66cb3c8d685\" target=\"_blank\">Trump campaigns\u003C\u002Fa> to \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.businessinsider.com\u002Ffacebook-vaccine-covid-misinformation-social-media-nytimes-report-2021-7\" target=\"_blank\">COVID-19 misinformation\u003C\u002Fa>, the giant failed to act upon serious issues in time. And as news arouse about the tech giant’s \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftechcrunch.com\u002F2019\u002F10\u002F28\u002Ffacebook-unveils-its-first-foray-into-personal-digital-healthcare-tools\u002F?guccounter=1\" target=\"_blank\">Preventive Health tool\u003C\u002Fa> and is said to be \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fastcompany.com\u002F90606044\u002Ffacebook-health-tracker-wearable\" target=\"_blank\">building its own wearable\u003C\u002Fa>, we can’t NOT connect the dots and realise how Facebook is slowly stepping into healthcare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>So we looked around what its relation is to healthcare. Does it handle private health data and if so, how exactly? Does it allow the dissemination of insane, health-related fake news? How does it fare in community building and how does it offer its own tools for health issues? Let’s see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F02\u002F073_facebook-768x432.gif\" alt=\"facebook in healthcare\" class=\"wp-image-23195\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F02\u002F073_facebook-768x432.gif 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F02\u002F073_facebook-370x208.gif 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F02\u002F073_facebook-1536x864.gif 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F02\u002F073_facebook-2048x1152.gif 2048w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F02\u002F073_facebook-512x288.gif 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Sharing intimate health data? Not cool.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Apps outside the Facebook ecosystem “\u003Cem>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2019\u002F2\u002F22\u002F18236398\u002Ffacebook-mobile-apps-data-sharing-ads-health-fitness-privacy-violation\" target=\"_blank\">can and do willingly share data\u003C\u002Fa> with the company to make it easier to reach existing and new users”\u003C\u002Fem> (and their friends) on the platform through ads. \u003Cstrong>A \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wsj.com\u002Farticles\u002Fyou-give-apps-sensitive-personal-information-then-they-tell-facebook-11550851636?mod=e2tw\" target=\"_blank\">Wall Street Journal report\u003C\u002Fa> found that that’s especially troubling in the case of health and fitness apps. These could be sharing anything from menstruation cycles through food allergies to blood pressure data. Quite popular health apps take part in the practice.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Take for example period and fertility tracker, \u003Ca href=\"Flo%20Period%20Tracker\">Flo Health\u003C\u002Fa>. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2019\u002F2\u002F22\u002F18236398\u002Ffacebook-mobile-apps-data-sharing-ads-health-fitness-privacy-violation\">Facebook can match\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2019\u002F2\u002F22\u002F18236398\u002Ffacebook-mobile-apps-data-sharing-ads-health-fitness-privacy-violation\" target=\"_blank\"> information\u003C\u002Fa> it collects from the app to real profiles. These users can be targeted by ads presenting products for expecting mothers and new parents. Another company involved is a meditation tool, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fbreethe.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Breethe\u003C\u002Fa>, which \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2019\u002F2\u002F22\u002F18236398\u002Ffacebook-mobile-apps-data-sharing-ads-health-fitness-privacy-violation\" target=\"_blank\">recognised its mistake\u003C\u002Fa> regarding the issue. What the most troubling thing is that none of the apps, at least the 11 out of the 70 that The Wall Street Journal examined, bothered to notify users about the data-sharing tool through privacy policies or terms of service. Neither did Facebook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In every single instance, but especially in the case of sensitive health information, \u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>users have the right to know who collects their data and for what purposes\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fstrong> and companies should support them accordingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Spreading anti-vaxx messages? Not cool.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cbr>\u003Cstrong>Cracking down on fake health news? Cool.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Unsurprisingly, Facebook is a \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nbcnews.com\u002Ftech\u002Ftech-news\u002Ffacebook-health-misinformation\" target=\"_blank\">hotbed for misleading\u003C\u002Fa> or outright false information – and that’s also true in the case of healthcare. So much so that \u003Cstrong>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.businessinsider.com\u002Ffacebook-vaccine-covid-misinformation-social-media-nytimes-report-2021-7\" target=\"_blank\">the company has no idea\u003C\u002Fa> how much misinformation is spreading on the site.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Researchers at \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fhealthfeedback.org\u002Fthe-most-popular-health-articles-of-2018-a-scientific-credibility-review\u002F#Review1\" target=\"_blank\">Health Feedback\u003C\u002Fa>, a network of scientists dedicated to reviewing media coverage of health and medical news, published their findings on the accuracy of the most popular health articles. They found that out of the ten most-shared health-related articles, seven contained misleading or false information – with the most popular piece, “\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fhealthfeedback.org\u002Fevaluation\u002Fmost-popular-health-article-2018-promoting-cannabis-safety-biased-and-misleading\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Federal Study Finds Marijuana 100 Times Less Toxic Than Alcohol, Safer than Tobacco\u003C\u002Fa>.” The experts added that\u003Cstrong> Facebook proved to be the largest source of inaccurate articles, accounting for 96 percent of the shares of the examined stories\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>This was the case before the pandemic – and you can guess it only went wilder. In August 2021, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bloomberg.com\u002Fnews\u002Farticles\u002F2021-08-18\u002Ffacebook-removed-20-million-pieces-of-covid-19-misinformation\" target=\"_blank\">the company said\u003C\u002Fa> it removed over 20 million posts with COVID misinformation from Facebook and Instagram. The issue is so big that even President Joe Biden raised his voice about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"President Joe Biden on social media vaccine disinformation: They're killing people\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FJS6Aw-hM190?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Facebook (along with other social channels like TikTok and Reddit) has a continuous problem halting health misinformation. \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2021\u002F8\u002F27\u002F22644579\u002Ftiktok-reddit-facebook-ivermectin-covid-19-misinformation\" target=\"_blank\">The ongoing issue on Ivermectin\u003C\u002Fa> is a clear sign that these platforms have no idea how to stop what they started. Ivermectin, an anti-parasite drug for veterinary use gained its momentum among anti-vaccination groups and individuals, is believed to cure COVID-19. Despite the fact that practically every single scientist, organisation and health professional has denied this, groups on social media keep on pushing for the opposite, and platforms seem powerless against the rapid spread of medical misinformation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Maintaining patient communities? Cool.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>There are still corners of Facebook working around its original purpose: connecting people. \u003Cstrong>The platform serves many patients as a virtual support group, people who may feel lonely and isolated while battling a severe disease. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wegohealth.com\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F09\u002Ffacebook-for-patient-engagement\u002F\">Patients use Facebook to learn from patient leaders\u003C\u002Fa> who have already been through what they are going through\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Many look to their patient peers for an unfiltered account of what a particular medical procedure is really like, or to get an idea of what kind of side effects to expect from a new medication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Melissa Adams VanHouten, an advocate for patients with gastroparesis, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.mmm-online.com\u002Fhome\u002Fchannel\u002Fmedia-news\u002Fthe-status-of-online-health-communities-post-cambridge-analytica\u002F\">manages a private Facebook group with more than 21,000 members\u003C\u002Fa>. After the Cambridge Analytica scandal, she \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.mmm-online.com\u002Fhome\u002Fchannel\u002Fmedia-news\u002Fthe-status-of-online-health-communities-post-cambridge-analytica\u002F\">told Medical Marketing & Media\u003C\u002Fa> that some people suggested relocating the group to another site, but that idea was quickly dismissed. The main reason was that she found no other community site that equals the flexibility and options Facebook offers. That might also be the explanation of why \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.mmm-online.com\u002Fhome\u002Fchannel\u002Fmedia-news\u002Fthe-status-of-online-health-communities-post-cambridge-analytica\u002F\">the majority of patient communities didn’t experience the expected “digital exodus”\u003C\u002Fa> amidst the sequel of Facebook scandals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>A mother of four with congenital glaucoma created the support community \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Fmommieswithguides\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Mommies with Guides\u003C\u002Fa> after finally meeting another blind mom for the first time. Their encounter led to a group of now about 2,400 parents supporting each other:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Mommies with Guides - Facebook App - Community Voices\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FAwhjnMyktUs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>A tool promoting blood donation? Almost cool.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In 2017, the social media giant launched the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fabout.fb.com\u002Fnews\u002F2021\u002F06\u002F100-million-people-signed-up-for-blood-donation-notifications\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Blood Donations tool\u003C\u002Fa>, whereby people in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan could find opportunities to donate nearby. \u003Cstrong>People who visit Blood Donations on Facebook can also sign up to be a blood donor to get notified directly when there is a need for blood nearby.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, the tool’s person-to-person format is \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.businessinsider.com\u002Ffacebook-blood-donation-tool-india-blood-black-maket-2018-9\">ringing alarm bells\u003C\u002Fa> among experts and professionals, who say that it’s too easy to abuse the service, leaving vulnerable people at risk of paying extraordinarily high prices and receiving tainted blood, among other issues. Public health officials in India were calling for Facebook to make changes to the blood donation tool, warning that the tech project — although well-meaning — risks fueling a dangerous black market for blood and harming the country’s fragile blood collection system. The Facebook Blood Donations feature is now available in 37 countries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"484\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F09\u002FWBDD_Donations-Feature-Coutnry-Map-768x484.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35929\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F09\u002FWBDD_Donations-Feature-Coutnry-Map-768x484.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F09\u002FWBDD_Donations-Feature-Coutnry-Map.png 890w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Facebook Blood Donations\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Suicide prevention through A.I. and reviewers? Cool.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For years, the company has allowed users to report\nsuicidal content, which was sent to in-house reviewers. They evaluate the\nreport and decide whether a person should be offered support from a suicide\nprevention hotline or, in extreme cases, have Facebook’s law enforcement\nresponse team intervene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The social network \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nytimes.com\u002F2018\u002F12\u002F31\u002Ftechnology\u002Ffacebook-suicide-screening-algorithm.html\">ramped up these efforts\u003C\u002Fa> after several people live-streamed their suicides on Facebook Live in early 2017. \u003Cstrong>About a year ago, Facebook even added artificial intelligence-based technology that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnewsroom.fb.com\u002Fnews\u002F2017\u002F03\u002Fbuilding-a-safer-community-with-new-suicide-prevention-tools\u002F\">automatically flags posts\u003C\u002Fa> with expressions of suicidal thoughts for the company’s human reviewers to analyse. Thus, the company now leverages both algorithms and user reports to flag possible suicide threats.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Facebook says the enhanced program is indicating 20 times more cases of suicidal thoughts for content reviewers, and twice as many people are receiving Facebook’s suicide prevention support materials. However, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nytimes.com\u002F2018\u002F12\u002F31\u002Ftechnology\u002Ffacebook-suicide-screening-algorithm.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">mental health experts said\u003C\u002Fa> the social media giant’s calls to the police could also cause harm – for example unintentionally precipitating suicide, compelling nonsuicidal people to undergo psychiatric evaluations, or prompting arrests or shootings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Where is Facebook in healthcare?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>VR – \u003C\u002Fstrong>Facebook spent billions of dollars to buy Oculus Rift in 2014. The VR device (with the catch that it can only be used with a Facebook account) is heading towards mixed reality with its \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cnet.com\u002Ftech\u002Fcomputing\u002Ffacebooks-oculus-quest-2-is-starting-to-experiment-with-blending-the-real-world-with-vr\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Oculus Quest 2\u003C\u002Fa>. Not directly a health tool, but it’s used best in fitness games. Another step into this world will be \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2020\u002F9\u002F16\u002F21439929\u002Ffacebook-ar-smart-glasses-ray-ban-announcement\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook’s smart glass\u003C\u002Fa>, some cooperation with Ray-Ban. \u003Cstrong>? \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>A.I. in medical imaging\u003C\u002Fstrong> – The company’s A.I. branch, the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fai.facebook.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook Artificial Intelligence Research (FAIR) group\u003C\u002Fa> has a number of projects from computer vision to COVID forecasting. \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fhealthcare-in-europe.com\u002Fen\u002Fnews\u002Ffacebook-ai-accelerates-mri-exams.html\" target=\"_blank\">FAIR has been working with\u003C\u002Fa> the NYU School of Medicine’s radiology department to significantly reduce magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan time with artificial intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Pop-up vaccine clinics\u003C\u002Fstrong> – Now why would an online tech company have vaccination clinics if it has no further plans in healthcare? It might be towards a greater goal in building health-related trust, but Facebook is doing good: the company’s \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fabout.fb.com\u002Fnews\u002F2021\u002F06\u002Fbringing-covid-19-vaccines-to-underserved-communities-in-the-us\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">pop-up vaccination clinics\u003C\u002Fa> help bring COVID-19 vaccines to underserved communities in the US.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Smartwatch\u003C\u002Fstrong> – Facebook has already been rumoured to build its own wearable, and it seems the company is reaching the end of that development. This summer \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.mobihealthnews.com\u002Fnews\u002Ffacebook-said-be-building-consumer-smartwatch-health-and-wellness-features\" target=\"_blank\">news broke\u003C\u002Fa> that Facebook is building an Android smartwatch with health and wellness features. The main draw would be Facebook’s services for messaging and other social features, but with the company’s reputation with data handling, its success is at least questionable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Social media\u003C\u002Fstrong> – Indeed, social media’s core role has returned! During the pandemic, Facebook and the other channels provided a much-needed link between people, from support groups to health tips. Facebook’s WhatsApp played important role in governmental communication as well, where \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.mobihealthnews.com\u002Fnews\u002Fcovid-19-shined-light-new-opportunities-public-health-social-media\">20% of the people have signed up\u003C\u002Fa> for their local governments’ real-time WhatsApp messages. The \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.socialmediatoday.com\u002Fnews\u002Ffacebook-partners-with-technology-and-healthcare-providers-to-improve-key-h\u002F601649\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">social network also takes part\u003C\u002Fa> in the ‘Alliance for Advancing Health Online’, in order to improve messaging about health and addressing vaccine hesitancy, and ensuring vaccine equity among underserved communities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Chr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\u002F>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Facebook hasn’t seemed to understand so far how important data privacy is to its users – or rather doesn’t want to give up its privileges to mine and sell the enormous data aggregated on its servers. That’s the reason why people are rather suspicious when hearing \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Ftechnology\u002F2018\u002Fapr\u002F05\u002Ffacebook-medical-research-data-sharing\">about news that for example Facebook was discussing sharing user data with medical institutions\u003C\u002Fa> and think that they might rather end up in a dystopian Black Mirror episode than being hopeful for getting customised care with knowledge about patients’ lifestyles and their medical needs.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Facebook stands at that cross-road, exactly. Either to become a social media\u002Fpublishing company that could help connect people in meaningful ways and bring humanity towards a better future, or not considering social, political and healthcare impacts and utterly failing to live up to the expectations. \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFIbMejImnxs\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n",{"rendered":1953,"protected":16},"\u003Cp>Data privacy scandals, help in rigging elections, spreading fake news: Facebook has some tough months behind it and users are not happy with the social media giant’s performance. However, Mark Zuckerberg’s company does not only have a political and social impact, but it’s also quite relevant in healthcare. We looked around what does Facebook in healthcare currently and evaluated whether those are viable ways to follow in the future. \u003C\u002Fp>\n",35905,{"_acf_changed":16,"footnotes":64},[5,70],[1958,1959,83,1960,889,84,293,1961,85,893,1962,606],234,1236,1258,410,717,[],[],[1283,1966,102,1967,307,1433,106,95,299,1285,1968,1969],3489,6095,2407,2877,[1971,53,109,110,111,112,113,115,117,1972,1973,129,1974,907,130,332,1975,131,911,1976,631],"post-23180","tag-facebook-2","tag-smart-healthcare","tag-mark-zuckerberg","tag-social-media","tag-fake-news",{"id":1954,"alt_text":64,"caption":64,"description":1978,"media_type":142,"media_details":1979,"post":1939,"source_url":1999},"Facebook in healthcare",{"width":144,"height":145,"file":1980,"sizes":1981,"image_meta":1998},"2019\u002F02\u002Ftmf_article_289-01.png",{"medium":1982,"large":1985,"thumbnail":1988,"medium_large":1991,"1536x1536":1992,"2048x2048":1995},{"file":1983,"width":177,"height":178,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1984},"tmf_article_289-01-370x208.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F02\u002Ftmf_article_289-01-370x208.png",{"file":1986,"width":180,"height":181,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1987},"tmf_article_289-01-768x432.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F02\u002Ftmf_article_289-01-768x432.png",{"file":1989,"width":175,"height":175,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1990},"tmf_article_289-01-150x150.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F02\u002Ftmf_article_289-01-150x150.png",{"file":1986,"width":180,"height":181,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1987},{"file":1993,"width":510,"height":511,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1994},"tmf_article_289-01-1536x864.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F02\u002Ftmf_article_289-01-1536x864.png",{"file":1996,"width":515,"height":516,"mime-type":152,"source_url":1997},"tmf_article_289-01-2048x1152.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F02\u002Ftmf_article_289-01-2048x1152.png",{"aperture":186,"credit":64,"camera":64,"caption":64,"created_timestamp":186,"copyright":64,"focal_length":186,"iso":186,"shutter_speed":186,"title":64,"orientation":186},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F02\u002Ftmf_article_289-01.png",{"related_posts":16,"related_posts_footer":2001,"subtitle":64,"cta_type":194,"cta_color":64,"related_books":2004},[1892,2002,2003],13843,17664,[661,1194],{"yoast_wpseo_title":2006,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":2007,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":1947},"Is There A Place For Facebook In Healthcare? - The Medical Futurist","We looked around issues regarding Facebook in healthcare and evaluated whether those are viable ways to follow in the future.",{"self":2009,"collection":2014,"about":2016,"author":2018,"replies":2020,"version-history":2023,"predecessor-version":2027,"wp:featuredmedia":2031,"wp:attachment":2034,"wp:term":2037,"curies":2048},[2010],{"href":2011,"targetHints":2012},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F23180",{"allow":2013},[27],[2015],{"href":214},[2017],{"href":217},[2019],{"embeddable":41,"href":220},[2021],{"embeddable":41,"href":2022},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=23180",[2024],{"count":2025,"href":2026},25,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F23180\u002Frevisions",[2028],{"id":2029,"href":2030},36105,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F23180\u002Frevisions\u002F36105",[2032],{"embeddable":41,"href":2033},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F35905",[2035],{"href":2036},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=23180",[2038,2040,2042,2044,2046],{"taxonomy":11,"embeddable":41,"href":2039},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=23180",{"taxonomy":242,"embeddable":41,"href":2041},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=23180",{"taxonomy":245,"embeddable":41,"href":2043},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=23180",{"taxonomy":248,"embeddable":41,"href":2045},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=23180",{"taxonomy":251,"embeddable":41,"href":2047},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=23180",[2049],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},{"id":370,"date":2051,"date_gmt":2052,"guid":2053,"modified":2055,"modified_gmt":2056,"slug":2057,"status":52,"type":53,"link":2058,"title":2059,"content":2061,"excerpt":2063,"author":61,"featured_media":2065,"comment_status":63,"ping_status":63,"sticky":41,"template":64,"format":65,"meta":2066,"categories":2067,"tags":2069,"project_category":2084,"contact_email_category":2085,"yst_prominent_words":2086,"class_list":2090,"better_featured_image":2108,"acf":2129,"yoast_meta":2134,"_links":2136},"2021-02-17T10:00:55","2021-02-17T09:00:55",{"rendered":2054},"http:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?p=17353","2021-02-17T10:52:31","2021-02-17T09:52:31","the-future-of-sex-and-sexuality","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-future-of-sex-and-sexuality",{"rendered":2060},"The Technological Future Of Sexuality And Sexual Health",{"rendered":2062,"protected":16},"\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Long-distance hugs; virtual reality porn stars; technosexuals living with automated dolls; you might have caught such news snippets online, but you’ll have to get used to these with the technological transformation of sex. Indeed, if technology permeates the entire terrain of human relations, why should sex and sexuality be an exception? \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sextech is already \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.forbes.com\u002Fsites\u002Fbernardmarr\u002F2020\u002F11\u002F30\u002Ffuture-of-intimacy-sex-bots-virtual-reality-and-smart-sex-toys\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a $30 billion-strong industry,\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> but analyses expect it to grow further to \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.prnewswire.com\u002Fnews-releases\u002Fglobal-52-7bn-sex-toys-market-outlook-2026---rising-presence-of-online-retailers-drives-the-industry-300973202.html\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$52.7 billion by 2026\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Such devices even made their way into the popular Consumer Electronic Show in \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cnet.com\u002Fpictures\u002Fces-2020-all-the-sex-tech-on-display\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2020\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.welltodoglobal.com\u002Fsex-tech-takes-centre-stage-at-ces-2021\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2021\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> showing that tech and sex are increasingly getting intermingled. But far from Tinder, \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.techradar.com\u002Fnews\u002Fhackers-used-ransomware-to-lock-up-internet-enabled-chastity-device\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ransomware-prone male chastity devices\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ci>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ouch!\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fi>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) or dystopian scenarios, technology can also augment our sexual health, especially when it comes to stigmatised conditions. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Science fiction creators have already explored such subjects with recent movies and shows. Spike Jonze’s \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ci>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Her \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fi>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(2013) told a beautiful love story between Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix) and an artificial intelligence (A.I.) operating system. In \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ci>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ex Machina\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fi>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2015), Alicia Vikander takes the character of a robot capable of interpreting and responding to human feelings, while also manipulating people in its environment. The popular HBO show \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ci>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Westworld \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fi>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on the other hand depicted inhumane violence that humans can inflict on robotic companions.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether living out one’s sexual fantasies on robots affects real-life interactions with human partners or whether sex robots threaten the world’s oldest profession are such questions that we must contemplate. This is because advanced technologies will increasingly become commonplace in this area of our lives. As we step into\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the dawn of a new sexual revolution, it’s time to face where technology may take the most intimate area of our lives. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For further insights we also talked with a transhumanist, a sexual health tech startup and a technosexual; because even though this year’s Valentine’s Day seemed like any other, those in coming years might be wildly different.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch1>\u003Cb>Sex and companionship during the pandemic\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fh1>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The need to limit travel and to introduce lockdowns amidst the pandemic impacted our sexual lives like nothing before. Many had no physical contacts with their partners for months and as a consequence, we had to adapt. As work and shopping increasingly turned to virtual solutions, so did sex. Sexting \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmashable.com\u002Farticle\u002Fsexting-nudes-increase-coronavirus-quarantine\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">saw a rise\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as did the \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftheconversation.com\u002Fcybersex-erotic-tech-and-virtual-intimacy-are-on-the-rise-during-covid-19-141769\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sale of sextech\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. More and more people \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmashable.com\u002Farticle\u002Finfluencer-onlyfans-sex-work\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flocked to OnlyFans\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a streaming platform mostly associated with digital sex work. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffutureofsex.net\u002FFuture_of_Sex_Report.pdf\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Future of Sex report\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> more than 25% \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of young people will have had a long-distance sexual experience.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other forms of companionship are also adopting socially-distant features. For “only” £250, you can get a \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcutecircuit.com\u002Fhugshirt\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HugShirt\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This smart shirt \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">allows people to send hugs over distance – just like a text message. The wearer can feel the strength, duration, and location of the touch, skin warmth, and the heart rate of the sender.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> There’s now also the possibility to send a kiss remotely with the \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fkissenger.lovotics.com\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kissenger from Lovotics\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. By kissing the device’s artificial mouth on the sender end, the receiver device “\u003Cem>provides the convincing properties of the real kiss.”\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For fans of sci-fi, Gatebox released the \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.otaquest.com\u002Fgatebox-to-begin-shipping-their-mass-production-model\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GTBX-100, \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">which is an Alexa-like virtual home assistant but with a more “human touch.” It features a cute humanoid hologram that “lives” in a capsule, allowing you to interact with “her” more naturally, and she can even act as the user’s wife.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Gatebox - Promotion Movie "OKAERI"_english\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FnkcKaNqfykg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Such contraptions might sound strange or even funny, but they can address real issues. Before the pandemic, a “\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.forbes.com\u002Fsites\u002Fneilhowe\u002F2019\u002F05\u002F03\u002Fmillennials-and-the-loneliness-epidemic\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">loneliness epidemic\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">” was already spreading. Japan already had \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.japantimes.co.jp\u002Fnews\u002F2016\u002F09\u002F07\u002Fnational\u002Fjapan-home-541000-young-recluses-survey-finds\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">over half a million people\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> below 40 years of age who hadn’t had interactions with anyone or left their house for at least six months. Solo households’ share amounts to \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cbc.ca\u002Fnews\u002Fpolitics\u002Fcensus-2016-marriage-children-families-1.4231163\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">28% in Canada\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fec.europa.eu\u002Feurostat\u002Fweb\u002Fproducts-eurostat-news\u002F-\u002FDDN-20180706-1\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">34% in the European Union\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Loneliness can have \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.forbes.com\u002Fsites\u002Fneilhowe\u002F2019\u002F05\u002F03\u002Fmillennials-and-the-loneliness-epidemic\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">devastating health consequences\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> like depression or even predispose to physical conditions like heart disease. As providing companionship and intimacy online becomes more adopted, such solutions could become more accessible to those wary of physical interactions.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch1>\u003Cb>Destigmatising sexual health\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fh1>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New technological approaches can also address other sensitive topics like sexual health. The latter is often stigmatised and a taboo subject for many. “\u003Cem>A positive relationship to sex shouldn’t be a privileged thing, it’s a fundamental human right\u003C\u002Fem>,” \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fcareers\u002F2020\u002Fjul\u002F06\u002Fa-journey-to-mindful-sex-how-a-new-app-is-helping-women-find-sexual-wellbeing\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">said Billie Quinlan\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, co-founder of Ferly. The latter is a “mindful sex app” for women that, based on one’s profile, suggests appropriate audio guides that vary from encouraging the user to self-touch and explore through challenging negative beliefs about one’s body to discussing gynaecological anatomy. The app even saw \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fcareers\u002F2020\u002Fjul\u002F06\u002Fa-journey-to-mindful-sex-how-a-new-app-is-helping-women-find-sexual-wellbeing\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a 65% increase\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in organic downloads during the pandemic.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cfigure id=\"attachment_32723\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32723\" style=\"width: 1304px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-32723\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F03\u002Fsex-health-app-sextech.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1304\" height=\"732\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F03\u002Fsex-health-app-sextech.jpg 1304w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F03\u002Fsex-health-app-sextech-370x208.jpg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F03\u002Fsex-health-app-sextech-768x431.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1304px) 100vw, 1304px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32723\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: https:\u002F\u002Fmashable.com\u002F\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Men as well face the pressure of stigma when it comes to their sexual health. “\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cem>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Men’s health has a number of challenges, with everything from hard to access services to embarrassing conditions\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003Cem>,\u003C\u002Fem>” Sam Shah, Chief Medical Strategy Officer of \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Numan\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, told us \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fposts\u002Ftaking-stigma-of-47274999\">in an interview\u003C\u002Fa> on our Patreon channel. This startup focuses on men’s health including conditions such as erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.numan.com\u002F\">Numan\u003C\u002Fa> also provides personalised supplements to support men through their online platform.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“\u003Cem>Numan takes a different approach, its focus is on being helpful to the people using our services and also trying to take some of the stigma out of conditions such as erectile dysfunction,\u003C\u002Fem>” Shah added. “\u003Cem>We’re doing that using social marketing techniques, using advertising and messaging that people can identify with. By helping men engage with our service we can help solve some immediate problems, but more importantly help to diagnose other underlying conditions such as diabetes or testosterone deficiency.\u003C\u002Fem>”\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sam Shah also noted that during the pandemic, the number of people using their services and similar ones increased. Hopefully, adoption remains high post-pandemic.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch1>\u003Cb>Robots are coming to your bedroom\u003C\u002Fb>\u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.geminoid.jp\u002Fen\u002Findex.html\">\u003Cbr>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fh1>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Futurist Dr. Ian Pearson \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffinance.yahoo.com\u002Fnews\u002Frobots-mean-future-sex-163000549.html\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">previously estimated\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in a report that by 2050, human-robot sex will become more common than human-human sex.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Is there any chance for that to happen? Considering the state of technology, it might. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Companies like \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.realdoll.com\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RealDoll\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Frealbotix.com\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Realbotix\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> manufacture A.I.-powered \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">adult dolls \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">endowed with facial expressions and conversing abilities. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Realbotix’s iconic sex robot, Harmony, which can cost up to $12,000, \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.forbes.com\u002Fsites\u002Fandreamorris\u002F2020\u002F07\u002F28\u002Ftalk-to-your-sex-robot-about-covid-19\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">has even received an update\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that adds a coronavirus conversational feature.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Already, there are people with such robotic partners: the \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">so-called technosexuals. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among them is \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftwitter.com\u002FDavecat\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Davecat,\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> who lives with his wife and mistress; both synthetic dolls. He told The Medical Futurist that being a technosexual has improved his life, without question. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He said he felt isolated and alone, without a place in society. After he began his relationship with his synthetic partners, everything changed. He says he is now happy and that his friends accept his choice. He added his dolls were necessary to start living a better life.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Realbotix Sex Robot, Harmony discusses COVID-19 and depression.\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FzuTN3M1BYg0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While such dolls often err in \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fspectrum.ieee.org\u002Fautomaton\u002Frobotics\u002Fhumanoids\u002Fwhat-is-the-uncanny-valley\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the uncanny valley\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or when artificial human depictions look lifelike, but something still feels off; they are still sought after in the world’s oldest profession. From \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.scmp.com\u002Fnews\u002Fhong-kong\u002Fsociety\u002Farticle\u002F3078456\u002Ftourists-gone-hong-kong-guest-house-owner-hopes-sex-doll\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hong Kong\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.reviewjournal.com\u002Flocal\u002Flocal-las-vegas\u002Fsex-dolls-experience-raises-eyebrows-in-las-vegas-neighborhood-1950537\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Las Vegas\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.vox.com\u002Fthe-goods\u002F2018\u002F11\u002F26\u002F18113019\u002Fsex-doll-brothels-legal-sex-work\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sex doll brothels\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are now a reality. Europe’s first sex doll brothel, which opened in Barcelona, attracts \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.vice.com\u002Fen\u002Farticle\u002Fxgq54d\u002Finside-europes-first-sex-doll-brothel\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">around 55 clients every week\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Another brothel in the same city even “employs” both artificial and human prostitutes. Some \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.express.co.uk\u002Fnews\u002Fworld\u002F779841\u002FSex-robot-brothel-Lumidolls-Barcelona-prostitutes-complain-police\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">consider these newcomers as a threat\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to the trade\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and has even led to \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcampaignagainstsexrobots.org\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Campaign Against Sex Robots\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The latter was founded in 2015 “\u003Cem>to warn against the dangers of normalising relationships with machines and reinforcing female dehumanisation\u003C\u002Fem>”.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, Davecat told us that he thinks such companions can be adequate for lonely people, those unlucky in romance or not fitting in society. With the ability to not only listen but also respond, they can be a genuine benefit to thousands of individuals, he added.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch1>\u003Cb>VR takes porn into another reality… without ever replacing human contact\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fh1>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Going one step further from artificial dolls, the sex industry is also accommodating virtual, intangible sex workers altogether. Indeed\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the adult entertainment industry has always been on the cutting edge of technological revolution, \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">so it’s no wonder that industry experts estimate that virtual reality (VR) porn accounts for \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fskarredghost.com\u002F2019\u002F04\u002F12\u002Fstatus-of-augmented-reality-ar-porn\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">50% of the total VR market\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The biggest appeal of VR porn is that it gives the potential feeling of being \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ci>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fi>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the movie thanks to the 360-degree films that allow viewers to move their heads around\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (but not much else)\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, under COVID lockdown, it’s the closest thing to real sex some might experience. That’s why some VR porn companies have experienced as much as \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.insider.com\u002Fadult-entertainment-industry-seeing-rise-in-vr-porn-isolation-2020-3\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">30% growth in sales\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> since lockdowns began. Even regular, 2D porn saw a boost as \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.insider.com\u002Fadult-entertainment-industry-seeing-rise-in-vr-porn-isolation-2020-3\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PornHub’s surge in traffic\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> attests. As \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.insider.com\u002Fnew-york-city-coronavirus-safe-sex-guide-rimming-masturbation-2020-3\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New York City health officials put it\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ‘you are your safest sex partner’.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cfigure id=\"attachment_32725\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32725\" style=\"width: 950px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-32725\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F03\u002FVirtual-reality-VR-sex-relationship.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"950\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F03\u002FVirtual-reality-VR-sex-relationship.jpg 950w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F03\u002FVirtual-reality-VR-sex-relationship-370x208.jpg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F03\u002FVirtual-reality-VR-sex-relationship-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32725\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: https:\u002F\u002Fmashable.com\u002F\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.insider.com\u002Fwhy-people-use-virtual-reality-porn-what-psychologists-think-2019-11\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">psychologists advise\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> indulging in VR porn with moderation. Otherwise, viewers might not satisfy themselves with real experiences and even grow dependent on it. “\u003Cem>No matter how real it feels and how much you enjoy it, that person on the screen is never going to replace proper human contact,\u003C\u002Fem>” \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.insider.com\u002Fadult-entertainment-industry-seeing-rise-in-vr-porn-isolation-2020-3\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">psychologist Perpetua Neo said\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In extreme cases, it could even lead to so-called “\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.insider.com\u002Fadult-entertainment-industry-seeing-rise-in-vr-porn-isolation-2020-3\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">porn-induced erectile dysfunction.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">” It refers to viewers’ brains getting accustomed to such extreme levels of stimulation that they can’t get stimulated enough by their real-life partner.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch1>\u003Cb>Sextech and the future of society\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fh1>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At this point, \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you might be experiencing a feeling of shock, outrage, frustration, amazement\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or the combination of all four. However, you should consider that technology is always developed as a response to \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">human needs\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are people who live in long-distance relationships and desperately lonely people. Others might have problems with monogamy or  forming long-lasting (sexual) relationships.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Others who live in marriage and everything else except sex is working just fine. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some even struggle with their own sexuality and matters of sexual health. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The future of sextech can offer solutions to live a fulfilling sexual life.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, these also \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bring along a host of ethical and moral questions about our relationships\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and our society as a whole. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is VR sex cheating or a safe way to experiment? We could ask the same about A.I. sex dolls too. Moreover, should the latter be allowed to recreate questionable or downright immoral fantasies? \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“\u003Cem>Some robots are programmed to protest, to create a rape scenario\u003C\u002Fem>,” Dr Christine Hendren of Duke University \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fnews\u002Fscience-environment-51330261\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">told BBC News\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. “\u003Cem>Some are designed to look like children. One developer of these in Japan is a self-confessed paedophile, who says that this device is a prophylactic against him ever hurting a real child.\u003C\u002Fem>” Researchers \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fnews\u002Fscience-environment-51330261\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">are already sounding the alarm\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that such robots present an increasing threat to individual, as well as societal, morals and psychology. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cfigure id=\"attachment_32727\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32727\" style=\"width: 960px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-32727\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F03\u002Fsex-robot-doll-companion.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"641\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F03\u002Fsex-robot-doll-companion.jpg 960w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F03\u002Fsex-robot-doll-companion-768x513.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32727\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: https:\u002F\u002Fwww.forbes.com\u002F\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We will have to increasingly address these tough issues in the coming years. But it better happen sooner so that the boundaries are well-established among all members of society. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transhumanist \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fzoltan-istvan-and-the-jesus-singularity\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zoltan Istvan told us\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that the question is not how technology changes sexuality, but whether sexuality can survive technology. He doesn’t think it will. Sexuality, like all social rituals, is something that will not be needed in a world where offspring are born in a test tube or where the idea of having offspring is abandoned altogether.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On our end, we think that society, sexuality and technology should find a common ground. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We should teach \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">younger generations\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> how to love, how to feel empathetic towards others, how to form long-lasting bonds; while also figuring out what place technology might get in our lives and sexuality. To preserve the core of being a human, we should do that soon. After all, what remains when the most precious human interactions – touching another human being with intimacy, care, and empathy – lose their authenticity and are completely replaced by robots and virtual reality?\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dr. Bertalan Mesko, PhD, the Director of The Medical Futurist Institute, launched The Medical Futurist to help individuals, companies, and governments understand how digital health technologies bring healthcare into the 21st century.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">\u003Cem>“Digital health technologies empower patients to become proactive in their life; empower medical professionals to do their job being supported by advanced technologies, and companies and policymakers to make better decisions about their future.” – Dr. Bertalan Meskó\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To support this transformation, Dr. Meskó and The Medical Futurist team is working relentlessly analyzing the latest trends in digital health and bringing insights to the 800,000+ readers and followers of our publications, along these principles:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #e71d3299;\">\u003Cstrong>The Medical Futurist is a place to learn, not a place for advertising\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fspan>. The Medical Futurist team is working to bring you unlimited access to reliable, neutral information, that is free from the influence of vendors and companies.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #e71d3299;\">\u003Cstrong>Unlike many others, we keep 99% of The Medical Futurist content open for all readers\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fspan>, regardless of where they live or what they can afford to pay. We do this because we believe in information equality, where everyone deserves to read accurate news and thoughtful analysis.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp>For 2021, we commit to another year of high-impact reporting that helps people navigate the jungle of digital health and to see where it is heading. With no shareholders or billionaire owners, we set our own agenda and provide unbiased insights that are free from commercial and political influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":2064,"protected":16},"\u003Cp>Long-distance hugs; virtual reality porn stars; technosexuals living with automated dolls; you might have caught such news snippets online, but you’ll have to get used […]\u003C\u002Fp>\n",32755,{"_acf_changed":16,"footnotes":64},[2068,1135,5,274,171,1141],6479,[2070,2071,2072,83,2073,284,891,2074,287,744,2075,2076,85,2077,288,609,2078,2079,2080,1144,2081,2082,2083,916],167,6669,545,6671,6675,6677,832,6679,6681,6683,6685,6687,6665,6689,[89,90],[],[622,900,2087,299,2088,898,300,102,2089,307],1853,2373,1577,[2091,53,109,110,111,112,113,2092,1155,115,314,626,1161,2093,2094,2095,129,2096,323,909,2097,326,778,2098,2099,131,2100,327,634,2101,2102,2103,1163,2104,2105,2106,2107,134,135],"post-17353","category-covid-19","tag-ces","tag-kissenger","tag-sensors","tag-gatebox","tag-alexa","tag-loneliness-epidemic","tag-porn","tag-ferly","tag-sam-shah","tag-numan","tag-dr-ian-pearson","tag-davecat","tag-sextech","tag-istvan-zoltan","tag-hugshirt",{"id":2065,"alt_text":64,"caption":64,"description":2109,"media_type":142,"media_details":2110,"post":2127,"source_url":2128},"Long-distance hugs; virtual reality porn stars; technosexuals living with automated dolls – discover the technological transformation of sex.",{"width":144,"height":145,"file":2111,"sizes":2112,"image_meta":2126},"2021\u002F02\u002Ftmf_article_246-01.png",{"medium":2113,"large":2116,"thumbnail":2119,"medium_large":2122,"1536x1536":2123},{"file":2114,"width":177,"height":178,"mime-type":152,"source_url":2115},"tmf_article_246-01-370x208.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F02\u002Ftmf_article_246-01-370x208.png",{"file":2117,"width":180,"height":181,"mime-type":152,"source_url":2118},"tmf_article_246-01-768x432.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F02\u002Ftmf_article_246-01-768x432.png",{"file":2120,"width":175,"height":175,"mime-type":152,"source_url":2121},"tmf_article_246-01-150x150.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F02\u002Ftmf_article_246-01-150x150.png",{"file":2117,"width":180,"height":181,"mime-type":152,"source_url":2118},{"file":2124,"width":510,"height":511,"mime-type":152,"source_url":2125},"tmf_article_246-01-1536x864.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F02\u002Ftmf_article_246-01-1536x864.png",{"aperture":186,"credit":64,"camera":64,"caption":64,"created_timestamp":186,"copyright":64,"focal_length":186,"iso":186,"shutter_speed":186,"title":64,"orientation":186},32713,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F02\u002Ftmf_article_246-01.png",{"related_posts":16,"related_posts_footer":2130,"cta_type":194,"cta_color":64,"subtitle":64,"related_books":2133},[2131,2132,1116],31349,31879,[1332,197],{"yoast_wpseo_title":2135,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":2109,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":2058},"The Technological Future Of Sexuality And Sexual Health - The Medical Futurist",{"self":2137,"collection":2142,"about":2144,"author":2146,"replies":2148,"version-history":2151,"predecessor-version":2154,"wp:featuredmedia":2158,"wp:attachment":2161,"wp:term":2164,"curies":2175},[2138],{"href":2139,"targetHints":2140},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F17353",{"allow":2141},[27],[2143],{"href":214},[2145],{"href":217},[2147],{"embeddable":41,"href":220},[2149],{"embeddable":41,"href":2150},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=17353",[2152],{"count":1358,"href":2153},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F17353\u002Frevisions",[2155],{"id":2156,"href":2157},33453,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F17353\u002Frevisions\u002F33453",[2159],{"embeddable":41,"href":2160},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F32755",[2162],{"href":2163},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=17353",[2165,2167,2169,2171,2173],{"taxonomy":11,"embeddable":41,"href":2166},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=17353",{"taxonomy":242,"embeddable":41,"href":2168},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=17353",{"taxonomy":245,"embeddable":41,"href":2170},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=17353",{"taxonomy":248,"embeddable":41,"href":2172},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=17353",{"taxonomy":251,"embeddable":41,"href":2174},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=17353",[2176],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},[],[],1785956498100]