Ethics in Biomedical engineering

1. Ethics in Biomedical engineering By Ryan Ivone

2. Introduction • Goal : Use their knowledge, skills, and abilities to enhance the safety, health, and welfare of the public • Major advancements – artificial organs, bioengineered skin, genetic engineering, etc. • Used for the purposes of rehabilitation, giving patients their lives back

3. Taking a Step Back • Used for the right reasons, no doubt helpful to society • Future – using this technology for the wrong reasons • Rehabilitation vs human enhancement • Returning to normal state vs going beyond normal state • Is it ethical?

4. Vs.

5. Genetic engineering • Germline engineering – Modifying genes in eggs, sperm, and embryos • Leads to inheritable modifications of the genome that are passed on to future generations • “Playing God” • Enhancing human traits (intelligence, strength, etc)

6. Germline Engineering Cons Creating the “perfect” person (reshape society) Where does responsibility fall if problems arise Pros • Preventing undesired genes from appearing in children • Enhance certain characteristics of offspring

7. Tissue Engineering • Field that aims to restore functioning of tissue or whole organs • Use of human embryonic tissue (stem cells) • Controversial – cells are harvested from human embryos, which are destroyed in the process • Worry of large scale cultivation of human embryos specifically for this purpose

8. Prostheses/implants • Use synthetic material to create artificial limbs • Interface with biological systems • Rehabilitation engineering - developing technological solutions for problems of people with disabilities and function impairments

9. Prostheses/implants • Ethical – part human, part machine • Involves use of addition of artificial structures and systems to human biology • Cybercrime – hacking devices using Bluetooth (lethal dose insulin to diabetics) • Raises questions – • Should certain organs not be replaced by artificial systems? (loss of identity) • In the future, will people want to replace healthy organs/limbs for better artificial versions?

10. Imaging and optics • Application of engineering methods to detect and visualize biological processes • Obvious benefits – early detection diseases • Diagnostic imaging concerns • Diseases may be revealed that were not under investigation or for which no therapy is available • Conditions may become visible that indicate an increased probability to develop a disease

11. Imaging AND OPTICS • Raises question: • Would you want to know how much time you have left to live? • Ethical – data manipulation of imaging • Images are expected to be truthful and reliable • Some imaging operations necessary (brightness and contrast) • What imaging operations are permissible? • How much of this information needs to be disclosed?

12. Neural Engineering • Goal - study and manipulate the central or peripheral nervous systems • Restoration and augmentation of human function • Neuralprosthetics - neural prostheses are developed to replace/improve neural function of an impaired nervous system • Brain-computer interfaces - external computing devices hooked up to the brain, signals can be exchanged

13. Neural Engineering • Ethical concerns - • Integrity/dignity of person – affect personal identity • Making human brain partially artificial – humans into cyborg • Individual autonomy undermined • Neural device control cognition, mood, behavior, etc. • Moral responsibility • Can humans still be held responsible despite having artificial influence? • Neuroenhancement– Should devices be used to allow humans to have superior perception, cognition/motor control, or positive moods/attitudes

14. Recap • Advances in biomedical engineering are no doubt helpful to many people around the world • Fine line between rehabilitation and enhancement • Need to keep in mind these ethical concerns as engineers • Responsibility to: • Act in the best interest of society • Remain honest (free of conflict of interest, bribery, etc.)

15. Any Questions