FK-KMK UGM. The Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities (CBMH) of the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FK-KMK UGM), in collaboration with the Master’s Program in Bioethics UGM and the Unesco Chair on Bioethics UGM, supported by the Amsterdam University Medical Center, organized the 1st Seminar Series on Bioethics with the theme “Ethics of Wearable Health Devices”.
The event featured keynote speaker, Prof. Dick Willems, MD, from the Department of Ethics, Law, and Humanities, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Amsterdam. This session was moderated by Fahmi Baiquni, S.Psi., MPH, from the Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities, FK-KMK UGM.
The theme “Ethics of Wearable Health Devices” addressed the ethical issues surrounding the increasingly prevalent use of wearable health devices by the public. These devices, including fitness monitors and medical devices, raise various ethical issues related to privacy, data security, as well as social and health impacts.
Quoting the Theory of Justice (1971), “Justice is the first virtue of social institutions,” Prof. Dick Willems, MD, defined health justice as equal access to basic rights and freedoms for all. In conclusion, Professor Dick emphasized the importance of recognizing various perspectives on justice such as utilitarianism, egalitarianism, and basic needs. Each perspective has different implications for patients and doctors. Prioritizing acute life-saving care may ultimately result in a high mortality rate. Therefore, while rescue rules are crucial, they should not be the only principle held steadfast. Doctors often feel responsible for addressing resource constraints, yet they often lack the necessary tools and guidance. Ethics can help understand these situations and provide the necessary support.
This seminar contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly point 3 regarding good health and well-being, by discussing ethical issues surrounding the use of wearable health devices to raise awareness of the importance of health monitoring and healthy lifestyles. Additionally, through the knowledge gained from this seminar, participants are expected to become agents of change advocating for the adoption of ethical health technologies that benefit society. Moreover, this seminar also supports the achievement of SDG point 4 on education for sustainable development by providing a platform for the exchange of ideas and knowledge among academics, medical practitioners, and the general public, thereby facilitating better learning and understanding of the ethics and implications of using wearable health devices in the context of sustainable global health. (Assyifa/Reporter).
