William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice
Abstract
One in four people in the United States are disabled, making them the country’s largest minority. Yet they are well-known as the forgotten minority because they are often overlooked by governments and international organizations, and are rarely included in diversity and equity discussions. This is clear in how little the United States fights for the rights of the disabled. The disability aid and big pharma industries have been accused of being parasitic, the public has been accused of being unaccommodating, and the state and federal government has been accused of being unhelpful towards supporting the lives of the disabled. However, this time, the issue cannot be ignored. The consequence of the loss of [implants] is too dire; any ignorance given towards their plight would lead to significant harm or even be a violation of human rights. With the market rate of cybernetic devices increasing, there comes the increasing need to answer two questions: what happens to the people abandoned by the manufacturers they rely on, and what options are there to prevent the harm they will go through as a consequence?
This Note will answer this question in three sections. The first section will introduce the concept of the cybernetic implant, or “cybernetic IMD.” This section will discuss what makes a cybernetic IMD, give different examples of cybernetic IMDs and their uses, and compare cybernetic IMDs to other types of disability aids and devices, such as medication and non-cybernetic prosthetics and implants. The second section will discuss how cybernetic IMDs are obtained, the risks that come with obtaining cybernetic IMDs, the benefits of these devices, and the financial costs that come with receiving them. I will also discuss the types of unique harm that can come from these devices, specifically malfunctions, and hacking, both of which have been discussed by others in the past.
The third and final section will discuss the issue that Terry, Rita, and Markus face: manufacturer abandonment. I will discuss the consequences of manufacturers abandoning their clients and discontinuing their products, and what this means for users of their products not only now but in the future. I will also discuss what current solutions are there for people who have been abandoned by manufacturers, and how little opportunity of recourse there is for them. Finally, I will discuss possible solutions, and the role the right to repair plays in them.
This abstract has been taken from the author's introduction.