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Patron: Her Majesty the Queen
Patron: Her Majesty the Queen
7th Meeting of the 185th Session (2005-2006)
In the Wolfson Suite, Ground
Floor
Edinburgh University Library
George Square, Edinburgh
On Monday 1st May 2006, at 7 pm
At its simplest, telemedicine involves a telephone discussion with a patient, with the team involved with the care of a patient or communication with an international expert on the particular condition under debate.
At its most sophisticated, telemedicine involves telerobotic surgery where an operation can be performed by a surgeon based thousands of miles away from the operating theatre in which the patient is being treated. Between these two extremes, there is a wide range of activities ranging between consultation diagnosis, therapy and education.
Its application includes not only healthcare in remote and rural communities but the management of rare conditions, the introduction of innovative therapeutic methods, technique supervision. It has proved of particular relevance in the military and space travel domains.
It raises new questions relating to ethical and medico-legal issues, eg patient confidentiality; freedom of information regarding recorded data; the quality of images that may be projected and the major problem of informed consent often being obtained at a distance and perhaps in a different mother tongue.
Underused at present, with improved technology and, indeed, falling costs, it is likely that more of the telemedicine iceberg will be visible and put to good use in the near future.
The President, Professor Anthony Busuttil, will be in the Chair
A copy of the Loyal Address sent to Her Majesty The Queen, on the occasion of Her 80th birthday will be tabled.
Members of the Public are welcome to attend
Jane Ridder-Patrick, Secretary
secretary@rssa.org.uk
Telephone: 0131 556 2161
The Royal Scottish Society of Arts is Registered Scottish Charity SC015549