Live Like Nobody Is Watching: Relational Autonomy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence Health Monitoring

Patient autonomy and data privacy are important bioethical values, but AI health monitoring raises questions about how these values should be applied in the digital era. This book explores the socio-relational contexts that frame the promotion of AI health monitoring and proposes ethical strategies to preserve and promote people's relational autonomy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 14 June 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Respect for patient autonomy and data privacy are widely regarded as fundamental Western bioethical values. However, as our society embraces increasingly sophisticated forms of personal and health monitoring, particularly in the context of an aging population and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, concerns arise about how artificial intelligence (AI) may redefine or reshape our understanding of what it means to live a free and healthy life. Who should have access to our health and recreational data, and for what purpose? How can we strike a balance between users' physical safety and their autonomy? Should we allow individuals to opt out of continuous health monitoring, even if such monitoring could reduce injury risks and confer health and societal benefits? Would the constant surveillance of connected devices paradoxically lead to increased isolation and heightened exposure of patients' data?

Drawing on diverse real-world examples of AI health monitoring, this book delves into the socio-relational contexts that shape the promotion and implementation of AI health monitoring. It argues that the evaluation, design, and implementation of AI health monitoring should be guided by a relational conception of autonomy, which encompasses both individuals' ability to exercise their agency and broader issues of power asymmetry and social justice. It explores how interpersonal and socio-systemic conditions shape cultural meanings of personal responsibility, healthy living, aging, trust, and caregiving. These norms, in turn, structure the ethical space within which expectations regarding predictive analytics, risk tolerance, privacy, self-care, and trust relationships are expressed.

Through an analysis of home health monitoring for older adults and individuals with disabilities, this book examines the ethical implications of AI health monitoring in various contexts. It explores how technology can enhance caregiving relationships, improve patient outcomes, and facilitate remote monitoring and management of chronic conditions. However, it also raises important questions about the potential risks and unintended consequences of AI health monitoring, such as data breaches, privacy violations, and the erosion of trust between patients and healthcare providers.

The book concludes by advocating for a balanced approach to AI health monitoring that prioritizes patient autonomy, data privacy, and social justice. It suggests that policymakers, healthcare providers, and technology developers should work together to establish ethical guidelines, regulations, and policies that protect the rights and interests of patients while promoting the benefits of AI health monitoring. It also emphasizes the importance of ongoing research and dialogue to address emerging challenges and refine the use of AI health monitoring to achieve its potential benefits while minimizing its risks.

In conclusion, the promotion of AI health monitoring raises complex ethical questions that require careful consideration. By adopting a relational conception of autonomy and analyzing the socio-relational contexts that shape the use of AI health monitoring, this book aims to contribute to the ongoing debate about the future of healthcare and the role of technology in shaping our lives.

Weight: 492g
Dimension: 147 x 216 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197556269