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I think someone going above and beyond to literally save another's life, despite incredible odds, is the definition of a hero. What's cringe about that? There
by iancmceachern 3y ago
I think someone going above and beyond to literally save another's life, despite incredible odds, is the definition of a hero. What's cringe about that?
There are two sides to this coin.
It's the classic do we want to keep a human in the loop, or not. By your same point we could argue that robots are more efficient killing machines, so let's make autonomous killing robots.
Back to surgery, there are lots of reasons you want a surgeon in the loop. There are lots if things that robots can do better too (like your tremor example). The key, like many things, is in the shade of grey in between, not the extreme arguments on both sides.
I stand by calling that surgical staff heros, and also think that the future of (good) surgery lies in the combination of skilled medical professional and machine, not the replacement of skilled professionals by machines.
Disclaimer:
I work in this space
- BrandoElFollito 3y ago> so let's make autonomous killing robots. I think that this is not ethics or something that stops us from doing that, but rather the poor state of robotics. The second we can, we will have autonomous killing robots à la Terminator (but better because they are not really optimal by looking like us)
- satvikpendem 3y agoI agree. Ethics haven't stopped weapons manufacturers from making increasingly deadly weapons, so I doubt it'd stop when the tech for killer robots is possible.
- iancmceachern 3y agoYes they have (source - Geneva Convention and our subsequent following of it)
- BrandoElFollito 3y agoI am not sure who "our" is - but not the US, nor Europe, nor Africa, nor Asia , nor Russia (broadly speaking about bigger wars countries were in). It is always an afterthought and depending on who wins, the horrors of war that fall outside the "that's ok" category are either completely ignored, or someone is waving a finger, or there is a trial which finishes or not with actual punishments.
- satvikpendem 3y agoExactly. If the US breaks the Geneva Convention, will any other country be able to do anything? In war, might makes right. This has always been true throughout human history.
- IndySun 3y ago"In war, might makes right". Let's hope humans (predominantly old, white, men in this case) will eventually move away from banal, devoid of humanity, hackneyed maxims.
- satvikpendem 3y agoI highly doubt we will, if we haven't already in the last hundred thousand years.
- IndySun 3y agoI feel/believe differently. This can't go on. ie If indeed I am right and humanity is circling the drain but somehow do manage to reach the bottom in one piece, we ( humans ) will rise better.
- mcmoor 3y agoI think it's actually what happens with biological weapons. It's not actually ethics that blocks it but rather its uncontrollability to be used effectively as a weapon (and not hit your side as well).
- vasco 3y agoThey aren't heroes in my opinion. A doctor would have a hero moment if they were in the middle of their regular life and someone has a piano fall on their head and they perform some MacGyver-esque surgery and save their lives. If you clock in at your schedule time, go through your motions, clock out, what you're doing isn't heroing, you're doing your job. This isn't any sort of attack whatsoever on the profession, I have lots of respect for them, but I know plenty of surgeons and they'd all cringe at this hero talk.
- iancmceachern 3y agoFrom what I've gathered, this was no ordinary day in the OR. Based on my experience with complex, unusual and otherwise difficult surgical procedures, your piano MacGyver situation isn't far off from what's going on in the OR in these kinds of cases. This was no run of the mill lap choli or gall bladder removal.