Ethical Implications In Biomedical Technology

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Recommended: Technology and medicine ethical relationship

Kristie Slattengren
Biomedical Ethics Paper
Spring 2014

We have entered the 21st century and our knowledge of science, technology and medicine has increased at an outstanding rate. We have mechanical devices that allow an injured person to perform daily activities on their own. We have imaging devices that allow us to see what’s going on below surface level and diagnose diseases we would otherwise be oblivious to. We have the ability to replace dysfunctioning organs. These are not the only developments we have made and these in addition to the other medical technologies we have leave us in a position of difficult ethical decisions. A few of the major advances in biomedical technology and the ethical implications that come along with them will be addressed. The four topics that will be addressed are the scope of control in brain implants, growing organs from stem cells, embryo selection of in vitro fertilization, and the allocation of medical resources.
Brain implants are one of the more recent advances that have been made in biomedical technology. These devices have been used to restore motor function in those that have been paralyzed and have even been used to reduce tremor in patients with diseases such as Parkinson’s. The continual advancement of this technology is now to the extent that one person could control the motor movements of another or even that a person could download their memories or thoughts.
The exciting advancement in this field of research has definite ethical issues that it brings to question. The argument against this technology is the clear danger of power it exhibits. If an authority figure had the ability to control other people’s movements they could be forced into situations they felt...

... middle of paper ...

...ons that are currently present in the ever advancing biomedical field.

Barber, Richard L. “Public Policy and the Allocation of Scarce Medical Resources”The Journal of
Philosophy, Vol. 84, No. 11, Eighty-Fourth Annual Meeting American Philosphical
Association, Eastern Division (Nov., 1987), pp. 655-663
Parker, Michael. "The Best Possible Child." NCBI. Journal of Medical Ethics, May 2007. Web. 27
Apr. 2014.
Pearlman, Jonathan. "Kidney Grown from Stem Cells by Australian Scientists."The Telegraph.
Telegraph Media Group, 16 Dec. 2013. Web. 26 Apr. 2014.
Persad, Govind, Alan Wertheimer, and Ezekiel J. Emanuel. "Principles for Allocation of Scarce
Medical Interventions." The Lancet 373.9661 (2009): 423-31. ProQuest. Web. 27 Apr.
2014.
Savulescu, Julian. "Procreative Beneficence: Why We Should Select The Best Children." (2001):
n. pag. PubMed. Web. 27 Apr. 2014.

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