Tutorial 1: Ethics & Information Technology

For the first tutorial of this course, we discussed information technology and its merits and disadvantages. Being a class of young Gen Y people (ahem) this was of course a subject that was close to our hearts and certainly a big part of our lives. I thought the issues raised around ethics were very interesting, as being cynical me, or maybe having gone through the phase of embracing any technology just because it's technology and later thought about it over the years, I have somewhat more concerns and reservations about technology being the be-all and end-all of modern life as we know it. But anyway, here are some concepts and ideas we discussed...

Information Technology (IT) is defined as:

The study or use of systems such as computers and telecommunications for storing, retrieving and sending information.

Compact Oxford English Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.askoxford.com:80/concise_oed/informationtechnology?view=uk

IT is very prevalent in our society and getting increasingly so. It is the basis for much of our "modern tools" in the realms of business, education, entertainment, infrastructure, defence, transport, healthcare and so on. It's everywhere!

Personally, I feel comfortable and competent using devices such as telephones, Mobile telephones, MP3 players, Computers (including emailing, search engines, blogs, downloading, social networking), Televisions, Pagers, Faxes though pagers and faxes may soon become obsolete.

In Occupational Therapy practice, IT is common enough too. Organisations have corporate websites, informational websites, use email and some have integrated patient management systems across the organisation encompassing more than one physical site/building. Evidence for practice is retrieved via online article databases. Time use is also managed using a central system to collect and store information regarding how staff are using their time at work.

Of course, there are ethical implications which arise from the capturing, sharing and transferring of information via IT devices (e.g. mobile phones) or systems (e.g. internet). Other than the obvious issues of privacy, child pornography or online stalkers, there is a broader issue of the increasing inequality of the power balance between the "haves" and "have nots". As with any other tool, those who wield the tool benefit, often to the exclusion, if not outright exploitation, of others. In this era information IS power.

The old structures of terrestrial laws, regulations and boundaries are now obsolete, with the virtual global village. Geographical lines are irrelevant. This creates problems of monitoring or regulation. Who will make the rules? Who will benefit from these rules? Who will enforce the rules?

Here are some other concepts we discussed...

Computer Ethics is defined as:

A set of moral principles that regulate the use of computers.

Retrieved from http://www.techterms.com/definition/computerethics

Intellectual Property is defined as:

Intangible property that is the result of creativity (e.g. patents or copyrights)

Compact Oxford English Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.askoxford.com:80/concise_oed/intellectual property?view=uk

Social Justice is defined as:

The virtue which guides us in creating those organised human interactions we call institutions.

Center for Economic and Social Justice. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cesj.org/thirdway/economicjustice_defined.htm

Informed Consent is defined as:

Consent by a patient to undergo a medical or surgical treatment or to participate in an experiment after the patient understands the risks involved.

Retrieved from http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=informed%20consent

Since it is so rampant and contains great potential for good as well as harm, understanding the issues and implications of ways of using IT will form the basis for sound, safe and ethical practice in our practice and daily lives.

There are both advantages and disadvantages to using any tool or technology, and considerations must be made on all levels from the individual to the organisation or society, as well as factors from the economic, social, political, cultural and moral aspects.