The impact of public opinion on medical technology: the case of artificial heart implants

A public opinion survey was conducted in the spring of 1985 in Kentucky to assess public attitudes toward artificial heart technology. The data, based on consumer and citizen perspectives, indicate that the public is interested in and aware of the technology and recent implant surgeries. More knowledgeable respondents are more likely to support Humana's involvement, but less likely to want an artificial heart and other organs to continue life, and less willing to support equitable access and increased taxes to achieve this equity. Technological optimists are more willing to have the heart and other organs as needed and more willing to have their taxes increased to pay for the technology for all in need. Optimists also see nothing wrong with Humana's involvement in this technology. People's judgments on artificial heart technology vary, depending on whether they see it as potentially desirable for themselves as opposed to possible implications for others and the broader society. Although both perspectives are crucial for understanding the role of public opinion on the further development of this technology, it must be recognized that the two perspectives might have different impacts, depending on societal judgment of whether the decision to proceed with further development of the technology is mostly a public or private choice.