Healthcare Students’ Ethical Considerations of Care Robots in The Netherlands

Older adults are a rapidly growing group worldwide, increasing demand for healthcare and interest in technological innovations such as care robots. This study examines trainee healthcare professionals’ moral considerations, perceived utility, and acceptance of different types of care robots using an experimental questionnaire. Results show that potential maleficence dominated participants´ perspectives, regardless of educational level. Assisting robots were perceived as most harmful, while companion robots were considered least harmful and most acceptable; monitoring robots were seen as least useful. Acceptance of care robots was more strongly associated with moral considerations than perceived utility. Overall, trainee healthcare professionals appear more willing to accept care robots than in previous research, but their views are strongly shaped by ethical concerns. These findings highlight the importance of integrating ethical reflection and practical understanding of robotics into healthcare education, enabling future professionals to effectively collaborate with robotic technologies in care settings.