Sustainability and Ethical Considerations in MedTech

MedTech has influxed all aspects of healthcare. 

As we slowly digitalize and technologically upend healthcare with devices and AI, we shouldn’t handicap our future generations and society from using their minds. The ultimate goal is to empower the end user, the healthcare professionals, and their ethically motivated, patient-driven clinical practice, sustainably. 

For those of you following our MedTech series, we’ve come to the last chapter today. Stay with us as we add the final note to MedTech, by highlighting the sustainability & ethics of this industry to empower your MedTech career. 

The Crossroads of Sustainability and Ethical Considerations in MedTech

Sustainability and ethics are intertwined in the healthcare industry. 

The ethical principles guiding healthcare include patient autonomy, doing good, and fairness. At the same time, sustainability aims to use resources wisely, protect the environment, and provide fair access to healthcare. Bringing these values together represents a crucial step forward in healthcare's development.

Now we apply a similar concept to MedTech. 

It is necessary to track a MedTech product/device during its entire lifecycle. The MedTech experts, that is, the biomedical professionals, play an important role in this. Modern biomedical engineering studies integrate ethics, safety, sustainability, and universal healthcare. 

The sustainable features include considerations for environmental impact, such as minimizing resource use and assessing life cycle analyses. 

Ethical features encompass principles like justice, beneficence, and ensuring universal access to healthcare technologies.

The Sustainability Pillars in MedTech

Green is perhaps the new gold. 

A majority of employees and consumers prioritize sustainability-conscious employers and companies. This is particularly trending among younger generations, with Gen Z consumers notably willing to pay extra for sustainable products. 

However, MedTech companies are trailing behind other sectors in sustainability efforts. Our team researched the sustainability aspects of MedTech and compiled them for you:

Sustainability in Learning Activities: 

Integrating sustainability principles into a variety of learning activities, including problem-based, project-based, challenge-based, and service-based education. These methods give biomedical professionals firsthand experience with real-world situations where developing biomedical technologies must take sustainability into account.

Economic Viability Evaluation: 

Encouraging biomedical professionals to evaluate the economic viability of their product designs/bu-prints, including developing business plans. This involves understanding how sustainability practices can affect the financial aspects of medical technology projects, fostering a holistic view of sustainable development.

Reporting Environmental Impacts: 

Teaching biomedical professionals to report on environmental impacts through life cycle analyses. This involves assessing the environmental footprint of medical devices throughout their entire life cycle, from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal, to identify areas for improvement and optimization.

Ethical, Legal, and Social Considerations: 

Incorporating discussions on ethical, legal, and social aspects surrounding the development of medical technologies. This includes addressing issues related to equity, accessibility, and social responsibility, ensuring that sustainability efforts are aligned with ethical principles and societal values.

The Ethical Considerations of MedTech

Medical devices and products also concern human lives. In no way can they be less ethically motivated and scrutinized than the healthcare professionals themselves. 

Taking a step ahead, MedTech and its AI integration are not intended to handicap the medics. It is purely an added help to make medical procedures more precise, efficient, and relevant to the present lifestyle. 

 The following is a list of ethical considerations for MedTech as put together by our team:

Teaching Ethical Principles: 

Educating biomedical professionals about fundamental ethical principles such as justice, beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, integrity, and loyalty. 

These principles serve as guiding values for ethical decision-making in developing and applying medical technologies.

Practical Application of Ethical Principles: 

Integrating ethical principles into theoretical and practical learning approaches. This involves not only discussing ethical concepts but also applying them in real-world scenarios through case studies, guided debates, and hands-on activities.

Focus on Patient Well-being: 

Prioritizing patient well-being by emphasizing principles like beneficence (doing good) and nonmaleficence (do no harm).  Biomedical professionals are extensively trained to have a sense of responsibility when developing technologies that improve patient outcomes and minimize risks.

Respect for Patient Autonomy: 

Emphasizing the importance of respecting patient autonomy, which involves honoring patients' rights to make informed decisions about their healthcare. Biomedical professionals are taught to design technologies that empower patients and support their autonomy in medical decision-making processes.

Integrity and Accountability: 

Cultivating a sense of integrity and accountability among  biomedical professionals. This includes promoting honesty, transparency, and responsibility in all stages of medical technology development, from research and design to manufacturing and distribution.

Universal Access to Healthcare Technologies: 

Promoting equity and fairness in the access to healthcare technologies.  Biomedical professionals are encouraged to develop technologies that address the needs of diverse populations and ensure equitable access to essential medical services, regardless of socioeconomic status or geographical location.

The Value of Ethical and Sustainable Healthcare

Ethical and sustainable healthcare is much more than doing the right thing morally. These are concepts that are here to stay. Primarily because they are strategically important in your business. 

How?

The ethical and sustainable pillar of MedTech ensures a strong and successful healthcare system. Prioritizing sustainability and ethics can help your business improve patient care and ensure the long-term success of your product on a global scale.  

Here is an example,

Siemens Healthineers' Ecoline provides upgraded diagnostic-imaging equipment that has been refurbished to meet the latest standards in both hardware and software. This initiative reduces hospital expenses by half and cuts ozone depletion by 90%. Refurbishing equipment enables Siemens to offer high-quality medical devices to underserved communities globally at a much lower cost.

Benefits to the Company?

• Global outreach; can serve developing countries and smaller clients.

• Affordability, and accessibility to a branded product boost client satisfaction

• Repurposing products saves time and budget.

How can ANASTOMOS add Value?

Anastomos is a full-spectrum, end-to-end online platform designed for healthcare professionals. We offer career counseling to physicians, recent graduates, and those aspiring to become physicians/medical entrepreneurs.   

The entrepreneurial journey of medical minds is special to us. We have a dedicated team to assist you in developing your career and understanding your entrepreneurial portfolio. 

The specially crafted marketplace on our platform has vendors from across the globe who can help you with research, designing, regulatory & statutory compliance, clinical affairs, and guidance in MedTech till the rubber hits the road. These include architects, designers, engineers, cloud services, legal advisories, and consulting firms. 

Anastomos is the brainchild of many medical industry stalwarts who have carefully aced practice, entrepreneurship, and technological positions. Their career errors, high-profile positions, and success stories inspire all Anastomos members to succeed. 

Feel free to reach out to us today.