Human-Centered MedTech Design: Embedding Ethics, Law, and Social Values in Innovation

Modern MedTech is evolving from isolated devices to complex socio-technical systems in which ethics, law, and social values are core engineering requirements rather than afterthoughts. In this panel discussion, Joe Carvalko — patent attorney, engineer, and Yale technology ethics expert — reframes these considerations as a competitive advantage that builds trust and leads to superior product design.

Joe provides a unique perspective as both an expert and a pacemaker recipient, arguing that medical devices are "socio-psychological products" deeply embedded in cultural contexts. His contribution emphasizes that trust is a fundamental design problem, necessitating the integration of medical ethics—autonomy, beneficence, and justice—into a device’s specifications from the very first day of development.

Watch the full discussion here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7z6_SokPkY.