ITECH7400 Assessment 1: Ethical Discussion on Robotic Surgery

This discussion post addresses the ethical dilemma surrounding IT professionals' responsibility for the accuracy of robotic surgery. It explores how the ACS code of ethics applies to this situation, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing public interest, enhancing the quality of life, and maintaining honesty, competence, and professionalism. The post argues that IT professionals are significantly responsible for the accuracy of the robots they program, as the accuracy directly impacts patient outcomes. The discussion highlights the need for IT professionals to be accountable, diligent, and committed to ethical conduct, ensuring that their work contributes to improved patient care and safety. References to the ACS Code of Ethics and relevant literature support the arguments presented.

Running head: ACS
IT Service Management
Name of Student
Name of University
Author Note

1ACS
Post 2
The increase in sophistication and the advances in the field of technology allow the
surgeons to perform robot assisted surgeries. Although the success rate of this type of surgeries is
quite high, the process is not entirely risk free. The surgery accuracy of robot assisted surgeries
not only depends on the surgeon but also on the IT professional who are coding and programing
the robot. The situation gives rise to an ethical dilemma, to what extent, IT professionals are
responsible for surgery accuracy of the robots they program.
“ACS code of ethics: can be applied to solve this ethical dilemma. According to the
“ACS code of ethics”, “one should strive to enhance the quality of life of those who are affected
by their work” (ACS Code of Ethics, 2020). In accordance to this principle, IT professionals are
significantly responsible for surgery accuracy of the robots they program as the “quality of life”
of the patients are impated if the robot based surgery are not accurately performed. The accuracy
of the operations of a robot based surgery is dependent on both the surgeon and the IT
professional who are programming the robot (McDermid, 2015).
The ACS code of ethics entails a citizen o adhere to certain societal values which are
indicated as follows-
1. Primacy of Public Interest: Public Interests is to be placed above all.
2. The Enhancement of Quality of Life (ACS Code of Ethics, 2020)
3. Honesty
4. Competence
5. Professional Development

2ACS
6. Professionalism
In accordance to the “ACS code of ethics”, IT professionals should take the
accountability of accuracy of programming a surgery based robot. It is the duty of IT experts to
hold the interest of public above any type of personal interest business interest or sectional
interests (Burmeister, 2017). The IT professionals should be honest in representation of their
skills so that the accidents associated with robotic surgery can be reduced. The accuracy in the
works performed by the IT professionals will improve the quality of life of the patients. The
“ACS code of ethics” outlines the need of being diligent with the stakeholders and maintain
professionalism (Boddington, 2017). This indicates that IT professionals, to a large extent are
responsible for the surgery accuracy of the robots that they program.
Since the “ACS code of ethics” is applicable to all the ACS members irrespective of their
role or area of proficiency, the IT professionals are required to be honest to their work and
should undertake the responsibility of enhancing the quality of life of the patients, which in turn
show their true professionalism.

3ACS
References
ACS Code of Ethics, (2020). Retrieved 17 April 2020, from
https://www.acs.org.au/content/dam/acs/acs-documents/Code-of-Ethics.pdf
Boddington, P. (2017). Towards a code of ethics for artificial intelligence. Springer International
Publishing.
Burmeister, O. K. (2017). Professional ethics in the information age. Journal of Information,
Communication and Ethics in Society.
McDermid, D. (2015). Ethics in ICT: an Australian perspective. Pearson Higher Education AU.