± HEALTH In our modern society, digital devices, social media platforms, and artificial intelligence (AI) tools have b…+ CLIMATE The growing complexity of electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) operations—driven by grid constraints, ren…± HEALTH Objectives This study aim to develop, compare and internally validate machine-learning models for predicting…+ HEALTH Diabetes management faces a number of obstacles, such as fragmented healthcare data, privacy concerns, poor e…− SCIENCE Background Craniofacial soft tissue thickness (CFSTT) is a critical parameter in forensic facial reconstructi…+ HEALTH Background Technological innovation in total joint arthroplasty (TJA) has largely focused on intraoperative p…± HEALTH Infective endocarditis (IE) continues to be an often fatal condition despite improvements in cardiac surgical…± HEALTH Purpose of review Systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) is the leading cause of d…
TruaceTracing the truth around AIFriday, September 11, 2026
Subscribe
Health·P Space·Evidence-backed problem·Published 2026-09-09

Machines that express emotions: from medical paternalism to machine paternalism?

Abstract: Abstract: Introduction: Machines do not have emotions, but they can be programmed to express (to appear to have) certain emotions. In medicine, robots and AI machines are used that could express positive emotions (joy, compassion, hope, gratitude, inspiration or awe) and priorities. Objective: To describe the main ethical implications of integrating the expression of emotions in machines used f...

TRV-2026-1035Peer-reviewedPermanent record — cite & verify
Machines that express emotions: from medical paternalism to machine paternalism?

Hospital Universitari Doctor Peset, València 07 by 19Tarrestnom65. CC BY-SA 4.0 · https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

The quick read

As of the 2026-10-01 publication, the article describes that in medicine robots and AI machines are used that could be programmed to appear to express positive emotions such as joy, compassion and hope, despite not having emotions.

This matters because simulating emotions in clinical tools raises ethical questions about autonomy and influence, framed as a potential shift from medical paternalism to machine paternalism, with uncertainty about how patients interpret simulated affect.

Main points
  • Source states machines do not have emotions but can be programmed to appear to have them.
  • Source states robots and AI machines in medicine could express positive emotions including joy, compassion, hope, gratitude, inspiration or awe.
  • Title frames the ethical shift as from medical paternalism to machine paternalism.
Problem

Programming medical robots and AI to appear to have emotions risks creating machine paternalism, where simulated affect influences patients despite machines lacking real emotions.

The rundown

The source describes a current practice where robots and AI machines in medicine are used that could express positive emotions, listing joy, compassion, hope, gratitude, inspiration or awe.

It explicitly distinguishes real emotion from programmed appearance, stating machines do not have emotions but can be programmed to appear to have them, which underpins the ethical analysis of paternalism.

Sources

Reader signal

How should this claim be treated?

The debate