New technology

Abstract

Our Academy has proposed this primer, The Ethical Otolaryngologist, to serve as guide to help individual otolaryngologists determine the ethical nature of technologic advancements. Ultimately, each otolaryngologist will decide for himself or herself what he or she believes to be ethical. However, we otolaryngologists should make these decisions while recalling our sworn responsibility to our patients and our responsibility to our chosen profession in otolaryngology. Examples and questions that were presented are intended to assist each of us in making ethical determinations about the care we render to patients. There are many facets to the ethical implications of new technology touched on in this chapter, and they include the following: 1. Categories of new technology and technology assessment studies. 2. Otolaryngologists adopting or developing new technologies. 3. Otolaryngologists teaching and learning new technologies. 4. Supervision of clinical applications of new technologies. In conclusion, nearly all of us who are otolaryngologists have entered this aspect of health care because we enjoy patient contact, the challenges of surgery, the continuing education process, and above all, we are interested in helping our patients prevent and alleviate disease. Our training has encouraged us to put the patient's best interests above all else. This is our utmost ethical responsibility.