VOINews, Jakarta: Chair of the Honorary Medical Ethics Council (MKEK) of the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), Dr. Djoko Widyarto JS, highlighted the dual impact of technological advancements in the medical field. While these innovations offer significant benefits, they also present ethical dilemmas that demand careful consideration by medical professionals.
Speaking in Jakarta on Saturday, Dr. Djoko identified several ethical challenges arising from modern medical technology, including patient privacy and confidentiality, equitable access to technology, accountability in technology usage, and data utilization for research.
“Technological advancements like electronic medical records and telemedicine increase the risk of privacy breaches. Digitally stored medical data is more vulnerable to hacking and misuse, which means doctors must be vigilant in safeguarding patient information,” Dr. Djoko explained.
He also pointed out disparities in access to advanced medical technologies, such as diagnostic tools and gene therapy. “Not all patients have equal access to the latest medical technology. This creates inequities in healthcare, where those from lower socio-economic backgrounds may not receive the best possible care,” he added.
Emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) for diagnosis and robotic surgery, also raise questions about accountability. “Who should be held responsible if a treatment goes wrong—the doctor, the technology developer, or the system itself?” Dr. Djoko asked.
Regarding data usage in research, he stressed the importance of obtaining patient consent. “Medical data collected from patients is often used for research, but problems arise when data is used without permission or when patients do not fully understand how their information will be utilized,” he said.
Dr. Djoko also discussed the ethical dilemmas surrounding genetic interventions. Technologies like gene editing and in vitro fertilization (IVF) challenge boundaries on altering human genetics or selecting traits for future children. He emphasized the need to establish limits on such practices to prevent ethical breaches.
Moreover, he noted how technology can impact the doctor-patient relationship. “Frequent face-to-face interactions are essential for maintaining the quality of this relationship. Over-reliance on automated diagnostic tools may reduce the value of direct clinical observation,” Dr. Djoko stated.
In some cases, technology prolongs the lives of terminally ill patients, raising ethical questions about when treatment should be discontinued and who has the right to make such decisions.
“These issues demonstrate that doctors must consider not only the technical aspects but also ethical values in every decision involving medical technology,” he emphasized.
In addition to technology-related concerns, Dr. Djoko highlighted other critical issues in the medical profession, such as workplace bullying in medical practice and education. “Bullying in the medical field is a serious problem that affects the well-being of healthcare workers, workplace environments, and the quality of patient care,” he said.
Dr. Djoko concluded by advocating for ethical communication to prevent bullying and enhance interactions among doctors, patients, and society at large. "By respecting others’ dignity and fostering ethical communication, we can create a better environment for medical professionals and patients alike,” he said./ANTARA/VOI
