Asunto(s)
Algoritmos , Diagnóstico por Computador/ética , Aprendizaje Automático/ética , Terapia Asistida por Computador/ética , Actitud del Personal de Salud , Actitud hacia los Computadores , Toma de Decisiones Clínicas/ética , Toma de Decisiones Clínicas/métodos , Seguridad Computacional/legislación & jurisprudencia , Diagnóstico por Computador/legislación & jurisprudencia , Ética Médica , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Humanos , Aprendizaje Automático/legislación & jurisprudencia , Terapia Asistida por Computador/legislación & jurisprudenciaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: As virtual reality and computer-assisted therapy strategies are increasingly implemented for the treatment of psychological disorders, ethical standards and guidelines must be considered. This study determined a set of ethical and legal guidelines for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)/traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a virtual environment incorporating the rights of an individual who is represented by an avatar. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive literature review was undertaken. An example of a case study of therapy in Second Life (a popular online virtual world developed by Linden Labs) was described. RESULTS: Ethical and legal considerations regarding psychiatric treatment of PTSD/TBI in a virtual environment were examined. The following issues were described and discussed: authentication of providers and patients, informed consent, patient confidentiality, patient well-being, clinician competence (licensing and credentialing), training of providers, insurance for providers, the therapeutic environment, and emergencies. Ethical and legal guidelines relevant to these issues in a virtual environment were proposed. CONCLUSIONS: Ethical and legal issues in virtual environments are similar to those that occur in the in-person world. Individuals represented by an avatar have the rights equivalent to the individual and should be treated as such.
Asunto(s)
Lesiones Encefálicas/terapia , Trastornos por Estrés Postraumático/terapia , Terapia Asistida por Computador/ética , Terapia Asistida por Computador/legislación & jurisprudencia , Interfaz Usuario-Computador , Competencia Clínica , Confidencialidad , Humanos , Consentimiento Informado , Seguridad del PacienteAsunto(s)
Desfibriladores Implantables , Marcapaso Artificial , Telemedicina/métodos , Seguridad Computacional , Humanos , Ciencia del Laboratorio Clínico/legislación & jurisprudencia , Programas Informáticos , Telemedicina/legislación & jurisprudencia , Telemedicina/organización & administración , Telemetría , Terapia Asistida por Computador/legislación & jurisprudencia , Terapia Asistida por Computador/métodosRESUMEN
Legal issues associated with the use of pharmacokinetic computer software are discussed. One issue involves the physician's reliance on the pharmacist, as a drug therapy expert, to provide consultation on drug dosages. Another issue is the problem of liability associated with the software and how this relates to the physician, the pharmacist, and those who designed, manufactured, and sold the software. The legal concept of negligence as it relates to medical computer software is discussed. Although the programmer and the manufacturer are responsible for verifying that the program does what it purports to do, the user must exercise due care in identifying any program limitations that might influence the accuracy of a consultation. Clinical perspective, effective validation techniques, and critical selection will help to ensure that pharmacokinetic computer software is developed, purchased, and used safely and effectively.