MedTech should not only be about innovation and progress but also about responsibility

Last week, the Wall Street Journal published a report (paywall) on the negative effects of Instagram on the mental health of teenage women. The problematic effect of social media is nothing new and has been proven time and again by researchers. It's no wonder that many Silicon Valley CEOs are trying to let their children grow up without the services their companies have developed.

What was truly new about the story is that Facebook has long had tangible evidence of Instagram's negative effects yet downplayed it in public. Consequently, the article has led to great criticism of Facebook around the world, even if no one was completely surprised. 

The story reminded me once again how important it is to have a deep sense of responsibility in our professional life. As a physician, I am committed to the Declaration of Geneva, a pledge of my dedication to the humanitarian goals of medicine. The declaration has its origins in the Hippocratic Oath, and in its latest version from 2017, it reads as follows:

As a member of the medical profession,

• I solemnly pledge to dedicate my life to the service of humanity;
• The health and well-being of my patient will be my first consideration;
• I will respect the autonomy and dignity of my patient;
• I will maintain the utmost respect for human life;
• I will not permit considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing, or any other factor to intervene between my duty and my patient;
• I will respect the secrets that are confided in me, even after the patient has died;
• I will practice my profession with conscience and dignity and in accordance with good medical practice;
• I will foster the honor and noble traditions of the medical profession;
• I will give to my teachers, colleagues, and students the respect and gratitude that is their due;
• I will share my medical knowledge for the benefit of the patient and the advancement of healthcare;
• I will attend to my own health, well-being, and abilities in order to provide care of the highest standard;
• I will not use my medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties, even under threat;
• I make these promises solemnly, freely, and upon my honor.

I am inspired by the Declaration of Geneva not only as a physician but also as a CEO. Of course, the role of the physician remains a special one. Yet today, unlike in the time of Hippocrates, it is no longer just doctors who care about people's health.

Therefore, what should drive all of us in the MedTech ecosystem is not only enthusiasm for innovation and progress, but also a deep sense of responsibility.