High technology in medicine--ethical aspects.

The use of high technology in medicine continues to expand. Apart from the usual questions that accompany the introduction of any new procedure in medical care, such as efficacy, dependence on existing methods, and cost risk and cost benefits, high technology raises particular issues: high costs that influence the setting of priorities both at the local and national levels, equal access to health care for all, and social justice. Moreover, the sophistication of technology and its high cost complicate basic issues, such as informed consent and the autonomy of the patient. Finally, the use of high technology in medicine raises fundamental questions concerning the patient-physician relationship and the profile of the doctor of tomorrow.