Tag: death

Bury me with my Hyodol

Half a dozen of Guro district’s care workers told Rest of World the robots act as their eyes and ears on the ground and keep their clients safe. Maintenance of the robots has increased their workload, but it’s worth the effort, as the robots are a psychological salve for seniors, they said. But the bonds some people forge with their Hyodol raises complicated questions about safety and privacy. 

AI robot dolls charm their way into nursing the elderly

Fascinating article full of gems, by Rest of World, on the relationship between caregivers, elderly patients and their android assistants. This single quote summarizes the three main issues, further detailed in the article, with the introduction of robodolls in nursing homes:

  • big tech surveillance of vulnerable people
  • remodeling of caregiver’s role and relationships with patients
  • psychological attachment to chatbots

Robots put you to sleep… forever

Product shot of Philips DreamStation device.

Philips DreamStation, a robot to help you breath at night, turned out to be a killing machine.

Since April 2021, the FDA has received more than 116,000 MDRs [Medical Device Reports], including 561 reports of death, reportedly associated with the PE-PUR foam breakdown or suspected foam breakdown.

Problems Reported with Recalled Philips Ventilators, BiPAP Machines, and CPAP Machines

Manufacturers […] are required to submit medical device reports (MDRs) when they become aware of an event that reasonably suggests that one of their devices may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury, or has malfunctioned and that device or a similar device marketed by the manufacturer would be likely to cause or contribute to a death or serious injury if the malfunction were to recur.

ibid.

Philips recalled the machines and stop selling them in the US. Where else are those still on sale?

/ht @boingboing

Taking Blue Screen of Death to another level

Two deaths and 52 injuries were caused when the mechanical surgeon spontaneously powered down mid operation or made an incorrect movement.

In another 10.5 per cent of recorded malfunctions, electrical sparks burned patients, resulting in 193 injuries.

Robot surgeons kill 144 patients, hurt 1,391, malfunction 8,061 times