Giovanni Rubeis studies medical ethics amidst digitalization
Giovanni Rubeis, head of Karl Landsteiner University's Division of Biomedical and Public Health Ethics, researches the impact of digitalization on medicine.
Two years ago, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences established the Division of Biomedical and Public Health Ethics, appointing Professor Giovanni Rubeis to lead it.
The division focuses on researching how digitalization and artificial intelligence are transforming medicine and the ethical questions arising from this shift. Rubeis emphasizes that ethical issues are not external factors but emerge from the actions of healthcare professionals, noting a steady growth in awareness and engagement with the topic over the past decade.
Rubeis began examining digitalization in medicine seven years ago, becoming one of the first experts in the German-speaking world to study the ethical implications of new technologies. He believes AI is creating a fundamental disruption in medical practice, structures, and relationships. His book, "Ethics of MedicalAI," is set for publication in 2024, and he considers the digital transformation the most pressing ethical issue currently.
The division employs a multidisciplinary team with expertise spanning philosophy, ethics, social sciences, medicine, public health, and care. Rubeis anticipates an increase in ethical challenges due to the growing complexity of society and healthcare. Furthermore, patients' increasing reluctance to solely leave health decisions to doctors presents new dilemmas for healthcare professionals.
Rubeis describes himself as a curious and solution-oriented researcher, finding the combination of his various roles to be the main challenge. He clarifies that technologies like AI do not replace humans but can serve as auxiliary tools. Looking ahead, he hopes for a more integrated collaboration between humans and technology.