Q : Online methodology is being used for day-to-day meetings, institutional approvals in administration and for teaching and learning in the education sector to the extent that telemedicine in the health sector is getting popular with the approvals of the competent authority. No doubt it has advantages and disadvantages for both the beneficiaries and the system at large. Describe and discuss the ethical issues involved in the use of online method particularly to vulnerable section of society. | 2022

Introduction

The shift toward digital and online methods in governance, education, and healthcare has revolutionized accessibility and efficiency. However, for the vulnerable sections of society—such as the poor, elderly, rural populations, and digitally illiterate—this transformation raises complex ethical concerns related to justice, accessibility, and dignity.

Ethical Issues Involved

Area	Ethical Issue	Explanation
1. Digital Divide	Justice and Equality	Lack of internet access and digital literacy excludes rural and poor communities from benefits.
2. Privacy and Data Protection	Right to Dignity and Autonomy	Online governance, e-learning, and telemedicine collect personal data that can be misused.
3. Informed Consent in Telemedicine	Respect for Autonomy	Vulnerable patients may not fully understand medical advice or digital consent forms.
4. Quality and Authenticity of Service	Professional Responsibility	Online education and healthcare may compromise personal attention and service quality.
5. Accessibility and Inclusivity	Utilitarian Ethics	Technology should serve all, but digital systems often privilege the urban and affluent.
6. Dependence and Dehumanization	Virtue Ethics	Overreliance on screens reduces empathy, compassion, and human touch in service delivery.

Ethical Analysis

• Deontological View: The State has a duty to ensure equal access and protect privacy and rights of all citizens.
• Utilitarian View: Technology is ethical only if it maximizes benefits for the largest number, without harming the weak.
• Virtue Ethics: Administrators and professionals must act with empathy, patience, and integrity in digital engagement.

Way Forward [ Write In Hub & Spoke model ]

1. Bridging the Digital Divide through infrastructure and affordable access.
2. Digital Literacy Campaigns for rural and marginalized populations.
3. Robust Data Protection Laws to safeguard privacy.
4. Hybrid Models combining online efficiency with human interaction.
5. Ethical Training for Officials and Professionals to handle vulnerable groups sensitively.

Conclusion

While digital methods enhance efficiency, technology without ethics can deepen inequality. A humane, inclusive, and ethically governed digital ecosystem must ensure that innovation empowers the vulnerable rather than alienates them. True progress is when technology serves humanity with compassion and justice.

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