Assistive Technologies and Dignity of the People

Abstract

The great technological advance that is taking place in the field of healthcare resources raises several questions about the relationship of these technologies with the affirmation of the dignity of people. From the Moral Philosophy, a review of the factual situation and some arguments that point to a double foundation of human dignity is made: on the one hand, attending to the special value of a life lived with autonomy, and on the other hand, attending to the radical vulnerability of people, particularly those with special needs. This vulnerability depends to a large extent on the degree of empowerment that we are able to develop with the help of the ethical community in which we are inserted. The recognition of the moral bond with this community is the key, in our opinion, to affirm the ethical obligation to provide universal access to assistive technologies, by promoting policies that are consistent with this recognition.