Trust as a Solution to Human Vulnerability: Ethical Considerations on Trust in Care Robots

In the care sector, professionals face numerous challenges, such as a lack of resources, overloaded wards, physical and psychological strain, stressful constellations with patients and cooperation with medical professionals. Care robots are therefore increasingly being used to provide relief or to test new forms of interaction. However, this also raises the question of trust in these technical companions and the potential vulnerability to which these people then expose themselves. This article deals with an ethical analysis of the two concepts of trust and vulnerability in the context of care robotics. The first step is to examine what can be understood by vulnerability, focusing specifically on Misztal's three proposed types (relationships, future anticipation, past experiences). This strategy is often used as a starting point by authors and also seems relevant for the connection to the concept of trust. In a second step, these three types of human vulnerability are examined on the basis of a technical concept of trust. It is shown that (1) relationships and thus also interdependence can create additional options, (2) the anticipation problem with regard to the actions of others also makes responsibility transferable and (3) an explication of freedom is also associated with potential traumatic experiences. The final step brings together the previous considerations and makes it clear once again that trust in a care robot need not only be associated with vulnerability, but that vulnerability can also potentially be reduced, transferred and overcome.