Sorell, Tom and Draper, Heather (2014) Robot carers, ethics, and older people. Ethics and Information Technology, 16 (3). pp. 183-195. doi:10.1007/s10676-014-9344-7 ISSN 1388-1957.

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Abstract

This paper offers an ethical framework for the development of robots as home companions that are intended to address the isolation and reduced physical functioning of frail older people with capacity, especially those living alone in a noninstitutional setting. Our ethical framework gives autonomy priority in a list of purposes served by assistive technology in general, and carebots in particular. It first introduces the notion of “presence” and draws a distinction between humanoid multi-function robots and non-humanoid robots to suggest that the former provide a more sophisticated presence than the latter. It then looks at the difference between lower-tech assistive technological support for older people and its benefits, and contrasts these with what robots can offer. This provides some context for the ethical assessment of robotic assistive technology. We then consider what might need to be added to presence to produce care from a companion robot that deals with older people’s reduced functioning and isolation. Finally, we outline and explain our ethical framework. We discuss how it combines sometimes conflicting values that the design of a carebot might incorporate, if informed by an analysis of the different roles that can be served by a companion robot.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Politics and International Studies Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences > Social Science & Systems in Health (SSSH) Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Human-robot interaction, Older people -- Care, Medical ethics
Journal or Publication Title:	Ethics and Information Technology
Publisher:	Springer Netherlands
ISSN:	1388-1957
Official Date:	1 September 2014
Dates:	Date Event 1 September 2014 Published
Volume:	16
Number:	3
Page Range:	pp. 183-195
DOI:	10.1007/s10676-014-9344-7
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Date of first compliant deposit:	28 December 2015
Date of first compliant Open Access:	28 December 2015
Funder:	Seventh Framework Programme (European Commission) (FP7)
Grant number:	287624 (FP7)

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