Roxana-Mariana Nechita 1, 2, *, Marilena-Iuliana Nechita 3, 4
1 National Institute of Research and Development in Mechatronics and Measurement Technique,
6-8 Pantelimon Road, Bucharest, Romania
2 National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest,
Doctoral School of Entrepreneurship, Engineering, and Business Management
3 National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Robotics,
313 Splaiul Independentei, Bucharest, Romania
4 Metaplast SRL
* Corresponding author. E-mail: roxana.nechita2000@gmail.com
Robotica & Management, Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 27-32
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24193/rm.2025.2.5
Abstract: The accelerated development of artificial intelligence-integrated medical robots poses major ethical challenges, particularly in sensitive areas such as surgery and remote healthcare. This paper investigates how ethical principles can be incorporated into the design of these systems from the outset, through an ‘ethics by design’ approach. It analyses the specific regulatory framework and highlights the need for proactive, enforceable regulation. A conceptual and theoretical analysis identifies recurring dilemmas related to algorithmic transparency, privacy, accountability, and meaningful human control. The paper proposes a conceptual model that incorporates ethics as an integral part of the technological process, rather than an afterthought. The paper’s value lies in clarifying the need for a systematic ethical infrastructure and multidisciplinary collaboration in the design of autonomous robots. It also emphasises the urgent need for unified standards to ensure responsible, integrity-centred development.
Keywords: ethics by design; artificial intelligence; medical robotics.
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