For Better and Worse: The Technological Imperative in Health Care

Abstract

Biomedical technologies have radically changed the concept and practice of health care, often becoming ends in themselves and subverting the care giving process by the inappropriate use of equipment and techniques. Death prevention may become the purpose of health care regardless of the patient's wishes or the probable result. Issues of human value can be obscured. Technical problem solving should be incorporated within a multifaceted approach utilizing patient advocates, possibly nurses, who would function as care managers. (KIE abstract)