Navigating the Matrix of Domination: Healthcare Digital Twins in a Home Setting

In the field of healthcare, a digital twin (DT) refers to a digital replica of a patient, their health parameters, and history obtained through a combination of medical devices and self-tracking devices. This replica combines medical health informatics with artificial intelligence and simulation to support medical decision-making. While there is a growing belief that DTs may facilitate personalized patient care, research on DTs has not yet paid attention to the societal and ethical aspects of medical DTs from a user perspective. This position paper brings a critical analysis of the power structures of medical DTs used in a home setting in a European context. Specifically, it explores how power structures influence the individual experiences of a DT in healthcare in a home setting viewed through the matrix of domination, a sociological concept that explains how the organization of power relations in society serves to preserve the status quo.