31 Aug Technology ethics
The assignment regards technology ethics. You’ll identify and describe one specific technology, then provide ethical arguments for and against its use.
Identify one or more types of patient or employee data that is collected via technology, not just stored by it at a workplace. Alternatively, select an example of personally-identifiable data captured via technology from another environment with which you are familiar or research online.
oFor example, data-capture technologies might include: biometric scans such as fingerprint readers, vital signs monitors, sensor data, login (access), location tracking (e.g. key card, GPS, patient trackers), computer usage (e.g. browsing history, keystroke logger, etc.)
oThis assignment regards the ethics of the employer/institution capturing the data using technology (e.g. biometrics), not the use of data that has already been captured (e.g. EHR has already been captured).
For the selected technology and data type(s), to the extent of your knowledge and research, summarize the:
Method by which the data is acquired (how and when is the technology used)
Intended use of the data (the reason it is collected, and value/benefit gained by the individual or organization)
Whether it is required or voluntary for patient/employee, and is another method is available
Retention (how long it is kept)
Potential for unintended use or exposure of the client/employee data (i.e. how great are the risks incurred)
Precautions implemented by the organization, if any, to safeguard the confidentiality of the data
Final Step: present the ethical points/counterpoints regarding this use of technology to capture potentially confidential data.
These are the “why one side thinks it is good” and “why another side thinks it is bad/unsafe/privacy violation/unnecessary/whatever…”
Hint: see examples on pages 308-311
Hint: to simplify finding “counterpoints”, select a controversial use of such technologies, if possible. For example, some religious or scientific groups may object to it.
Include at least three citations/references from reliable sources such as professional publications, government/academic/industry sources
