Electronic health records, the device paradigm, and the need for engagement. Philos Ethics Humanit Med 2025 Sep 30;20(1):24
Date
10/01/2025Pubmed ID
41029433Pubmed Central ID
PMC12487404DOI
10.1186/s13010-025-00189-9Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105017798779 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)Abstract
In Technology and the Character of Contemporary Life, Albert Borgman puts forth the "device paradigm" as characteristic of the way we interact with the world in our technological society. He argues that devices, while liberating and disburdening us from some effort, also result in a lack of physical and social engagement. In this essay I apply Borgman's device paradigm to the electronic health record as an example of the device paradigm in healthcare, and argue that engagement and caring, two essential components of the doctor-patient relationship, are harmed by the EHR.
Author List
Lyon WAuthor
Will Lyon MD Assistant Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Electronic Health RecordsHumans
Physician-Patient Relations
