Preserving humanity in an age of technology.

Abstract

Preserving humanity in the present technological age can be a challenge for all health care workers, but perhaps particularly for staff working within an intensive care environment. This article highlights some of the potential effects of such technology on staff, patients and relatives, particularly bringing to light some of the disadvantages brought about by the use of such technology. Areas considered include the role of nurses within a technological environment, patients' and relatives' reactions to technology, the potential effect on autonomy and responsibility for both patients and nurses, economic issues, and finally ethical and moral issues raised by the advent of further technology. Despite many positive contributions to nursing care which arise from the use of technology, there are disadvantages attributed to technology which have only been mentioned superficially in previous literature on this subject. The question arises as to whether nurses are able to balance preserving the humanity of patients with the extensive use of technology in an intensive care environment today.