(Synthesis lectures on biomedical engineering,1930-0328
; 42)
Electronic
Includes bibliographical references (p. 59-66)
Increasingly, biomedical scientists and engineers are involved in projects, design, or research and development that involve humans or animals. The book presents general concepts on professionalism and the regulation of the profession of engineering, including a discussion on what is ethics and moral conduct, ethical theories and the codes of ethics that are most relevant for engineers. An ethical decision-making process is suggested. Other issues such as conflicts of interest, plagiarism, intellectual property, confidentiality, privacy, fraud, and corruption are presented. General guidelines, the process for obtaining ethics approval from ethics Review Boards, and the importance of obtaining informed consent from volunteers recruited for studies are presented. A discussion on research with animals is included. Ethical dilemmas focus on reproductive technologies, stem cells, cloning, genetic testing, and designer babies. The book includes a discussion on ethics and the technologies of body enhancement and of regeneration. The importance of assessing the impact of technology on people, society, and on our planet is stressed. Particular attention is given to nanotechnologies, the environment, and issues that pertain to developing countries. Ideas on gender, culture, and ethics focus on how research and access to medical services have, at times, been discriminatory towards women. The cultural aspects focus on organ transplantation in Japan, and a case study of an Aboriginal child in Canada; both examples show the impact that culture can have on how care is provided or accepted. The final section of the book discusses data collection and analysis and offers a guideline for honest reporting of results, avoiding fraud, or unethical approaches. The appendix presents a few case studies where fraud and/or unethical research have occurred. Preface -- Introduction -- 1. Introduction to ethics -- 1.1 The engineering profession and its regulation -- 1.2 A guide to moral conduct -- 1.3 Ethical theories -- 1.4 Ethical decision-making process -- 1.5 Codes of ethics -- 1.6 Other issues related to ethical behavior -- 2. Experiments with human subjects or animals -- 2.1 Experiments with human subjects -- 2.2 Application process for ethics approval -- 2.3 Testing on animals -- 2.3.1 Harm versus benefits -- 3. Examples of ethical dilemmas in biomedical research -- 3.1 Reproductive technology -- 3.2 Technologies used for testing the status of the fetus in-utero -- 3.3 Technologies that raise ethical concerns -- 3.3.1 Ethical questions on embryonic stem cell research and therapy -- 3.3.2 Body enhancement technologies and ethics -- 3.3.3 Advancements on regeneration of body parts -- 4. Technology and society -- 4.1 The inter-dependence of science, technology and society -- 4.1.1 Examples of the impact of science on technology -- 4.1.2 Examples of the impact of technology on science -- 4.1.3 Impact of science and technology on society -- 4.1.4 Examples of societal responses to global issues created by science and technology -- 4.1.5 New emerging technologies and their impact on society -- 4.1.6 Other problems arise from internet use -- 4.1.7 Policies and regulations -- 4.1.8 The environment -- 4.1.9 Sustainable development -- 4.1.10 Poverty -- 4.1.11 Fast emerging nanotechnologies, ethics, and society -- 4.1.12 Research and impact on society -- 4.1.13 Examples of issues of concern in developing countries -- 5. Gender, culture, and ethics -- 5.1 Gender and ethics -- 5.2 Culture and ethics -- 5.3 Critical illness decision for an Aboriginal child in Canada -- 6. Data collection and analysis -- 6.1 Major issues in measuring living systems (human experimentation) -- 6.2 Principles to consider when performing studies with human subjects -- 6.3 Considerations prior to deciding on the study -- 6.4 Using a good research methodology -- 6.5 Definitions that help define how the problem is stated -- 6.6 Data collection -- 6.7 Analysis and interpretation -- Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Author's biography.
Synthesis lectures on biomedical engineering ; 42.1930-0328