Social prescribing in the metaverse: a new frontier for primary care practice

Abstract

The advent of immersive technologies such as the metaverse, extended reality, artificial intelligence, and blockchain offers novel possibilities to transform healthcare services. These innovations coincide with clinicians' aspirations to deliver more comprehensive, patient-centered care tailored to individuals' singular needs and preferences. Integration of these emerging tools may confer opportunities for providers to engage patients through new modalities and expand their role. However, responsible implementation necessitates deliberation of ethical implications and steadfast adherence to foundational principles of compassion and interpersonal connection underpinning the profession. While the metaverse introduces new channels for social prescribing, this perspective advocates that its ultimate purpose should be strengthening, not supplanting, human relationships. We propose an ethical framework centered on respect for patients' dignity to guide integration of metaverse platforms into medical practice. This framework serves both to harness their potential benefits and mitigate risks of dehumanization or uncompassionate care. Our analysis maps the developing topology of metaverse-enabled care while upholding moral imperatives for medicine to promote healing relationships and human flourishing.