Leben in der "message society": Eine medizinethische Perspektive

• Published in: Jahrbuch für Recht und Ethik = Annual review of law and ethics 2015-01, Vol.23, p.3-15
• Main Author: Capurro, Rafael
• Format: Article
• Language: ger
• Subjects: Big Data und seine Folgen - Big Data and Its Consequences
• ISSN: 0944-4610; 2628-9121

The article analyzes the impact of digital information and communication technology on medicine both as a science and as a practice. The technological changes occur on several levels, such as: information overload, the physician-patient relationship, the self-perception of both physicians and patients, as well as the concept of the human body and what is understood as sickness and as health. With the purpose of defining a pathology of the information society, an anthropological framework is proposed based on concepts developed by Swiss psychiatrist, Medard Boss who, referring to Martin Heidegger, distinguishes between a "care for the other" ("Fürsorge") from one pole in which such care tends to take the place of the other, to the other pole that opens up a path for the other to care for him or herself. A reflection on the pathology of the information society must take into account the various modalities upon which individual and social freedoms are built in a digital environment. A therapeutic vision cannot be limited to healing symptoms; it needs to analyze the complex interweaving of society and digital technology. Moreover, it must consider technological conditions keeping in mind the various ecological, cultural, and political contexts.