Ethical Issues of using Robots in the Elderly Care Eldar Alasgarov Student ID: Date: 19/04/2015

Assistive Robots for Elderly  Rehabilitation Robots (Assistive robotic devices)  Assist in daily tasks  Ex: feeding, washing dishes, carrying  Monitoring Robots  Monitor health and safety  Ex: remind routine tasks, communicate with doctor,  Companion Robots  Responds to petting/communication  Ex: express emotions, make familiar animal sounds, “sleep” create a dialog, etc.

Fiction or Reality?  Worldwide  1.5 Billion in 2050  Ex: Japan  Population over 65  22% in 2009  34% in 2035  Investment  $24 million in 2013  $64 billion in 2035

Fiction or Reality?  > 1000 Paro (companion) robots in Denmark  In hospitals and nursing homes  Jonathan Grudin, Microsoft:  “I expect more robotic assistance for the elderly and infirm, because the demands are manageable and the need is increasing”  Eventually the robots will completely replace a human caregiver in the future  Prediction: 25 years before full robotic care is possible

Possible Use & Impact  More positive mood  Decreased level of stress  Decreased loneliness  Other benefits include:  Relatively cheap than constant human care  Distance communication  Increased mobility  Constant surveillance in case of emergency  Sometimes better care than unqualified low paid carers

Ethical Issues  Reduction of Human Contact  Virtual visits to doctors and children = fewer real visits  Less work for carriers = Less human contact  Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights  Privacy Issues  Technologies for monitoring purposes  Being constantly scanned, even when sleeping  Violates not only elderly’s rights, but even carers‘

Ethical Issues  Objectification  Insensitive robots  Treating the elderly as objects  Reduction of in quality of life  Autonomy  Restrict a user’s movements if considered dangerous  Unnecessary interventions

Contact Details  Eldar Alasgarov  