“Armed with knowledge”: Can technology impact experiences of epistemic injustice in health?

Activity: Talk or presentationOral presentation

Description

Often, we hear that someone does not feel they have been listened to or believed when engaging with a healthcare professional about their health, the assumption that they do not know their own bodies in favour of ‘doctor knows best’. This is particularly the case with individuals seeking support/advice/help for contested illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and recently long covid. This phenomenon is best described by Miranda Fricker as epistemic injustice, ‘when someone is wronged in their capacity as a knower’. In order to find answers to these health experiences, digital health information is often relied upon as an effective way to seek advice and gain knowledge. The popularisation of health tracking through mobile apps and wearables has also contributed to this and provides an opportunity to evidence health experiences. Some recent research has begun to consider how knowledge gained through digital technology can impact epistemic injustice, whether through menstrual tracking, engaging in the creation of vlogs or mobilising learned scripts obtained through podcasts. We will present our recent work in the area of women’s health as examples of how technology can support women in conversations with healthcare professionals and aid in potentially reducing experiences of epistemic injustice.
Period10 Dec 2024
Event titleNU Ideas Season 3
Event typeOther
LocationNewcastle Upon TyneShow on map
Degree of RecognitionLocal