Affiliation:
1. University of Bologna, Italy
Abstract
We are living in an era of rapid change and accelerated technological development. But what does all this mean for the world of medicine and the design of medical instruments? When we design new medical devices or healthcare technologies, we must consider both efficiency and safety and other values such as sustainability (for example, reducing environmental impact) and inclusion (ensuring that everyone can access medical services). Here lies the problem: how can we measure or operationalize these values? For example, how can we quantify inclusion in a medical device? This is a hot topic for value-based design experts. The chapter discusses the importance of design for values in the field of medicine in the 21st century, highlighting the need to integrate values such as sustainability and inclusion into all phases of the medical instrument design process. The methodological problem of measuring and operationalizing these values is also discussed, as well as the critical role of medical students in shaping the future of health and medical technology.