Review Safety of Medical Device Robots in Japan
Asia Pacific Journal of Health Law &Ethics Vol.12 No. 1, November 2018, pp.1-27
28 Pages Posted: 16 Aug 2018 Last revised: 9 Dec 2018
Date Written: November 30, 2018
Abstract
In Japan robot evolution in the medical field is remarkable, as robots often perform actions that humans cannot. Medical robots are used to assist with elderly care and conduct medical operations that require specific techniques. Japanese medical robot technology is among the best in the world. As the work force population decreases in Japan’s aging society, the demands for robots will be ever-increasing. In addition, the use of robots will reduce increasing medical cost in the near future. This paper ask if law is barrier to development of robot technology in Japan. In Japan, medical treatments that utilize robots are promoted not only by the government but also by private organisations, such as the Center of Assistive Robotics and Rehabilitation for Longevity and Good Health and the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, which are similar to the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health in the U.S. In Europe, the SPARC robot project promotes private level development of robots. One side effect of robot technology is the challenge these technologies present in the legal system, due to the fact that laws lag far behind the rapid development of robot technologies. In order to catch up, we may need to modify the existing interpretation in the executive branch and revise statues in the parliament. Otherwise, judges must interpret the meaning of statutes that competing parties dispute. This paper focuses on legal issues regarding robot technologies in the medical field, including how the government approves medical devices for the elderly, and proposes a legal framework that encourages the safe implementation of robots in the medical field.
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