Week 4: MedTech + Art -- Is Art Ever Wrong?

We live in a time where the moral absolutism of medicine is very much challenged. With recent medical advancements rises a crucial question of ethics: Where is the line between helping a patient and depriving them of their humanity? The third vow of the modern Hippocratic Oath states, “I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon’s knife or the chemist’s drug.” This statement resonates with me in that it emphasizes the humanity aspect of being a good doctor. In that, I believe medical advancements, despite being potentially intrusive, should be welcome as long as they don’t take away from the subject’s empathy.

The Hippocratic Oath

Kevin Warwick is a professor who challenges the ethics of medical technology. Warwick implanted a chip in his left arm that connected with his nervous system, allowing him to open doors and even neurally communicate with his wife. Many denounced this project as dehumanizing, Warwick even called himself a cyborg. However, I believe that his work could potentially be a life-changing alternative to medication for the disabled. For those who can’t open doors by themselves, or those that can’t even speak, this chip installation grants humanity and independence.

Professor Kevin Warwick

Other artists take a less intrusive approach to helping alleviate pain. Diana Gromala integrates art and technology by designing virtual realties that could help relieve chronic pain. 

Diana Gromala, using her virtual reality

Virgil Wong created a data visualization of symptoms, combining boldly colored portraits with a color-coded chart of daily symptoms for each patient. 

Virgil Wong, "Data Visualization of Symptoms"

While the solutions don't focus directly on the body, the visual aspect allows for a more interactive and personalized treatment experience. The loss of humanity through using technology should be less of a concern because the intersection of MedTech and art has achieved something traditional medicine or doctoring hasn’t. It has managed to evoke emotion and then make it tangible. 

Tyson, Peter. "The Hippocratic Oath Today." PBS. PBS, 27 Mar. 2001. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/hippocratic-oath-today.html>.

"Kevin Warwick." Kevin Warwick. University of Reading. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. <http://www.kevinwarwick.org/>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Medicine Pt3." YouTube. YouTube, 22 Apr. 2012. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIX-9mXd3Y4>.

Gromala, Diana. "Curative Powers of Wet, Raw Beauty." YouTube. YouTube, 7 Dec. 2011. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRdarMz--Pw>.

Wong, Virgil. "DATA VISUALIZATION OF SYMPTOMS to Improve Patient Doctor Communication." Virgil Wong. Virgil Wong. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. <http://virgilwong.com/art/symptom-data-portraits/>.