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Medical law ethics & bioethics
Essay on bioethics study
Essay on bioethics study
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Biomedical engineering is a rapidly growing field of research that is making exciting discoveries and advancements in the field of medicine at an astounding pace. With such progress there are many ethical issues that arise concerning new innovative implants, medical devices, and diagnosis and therapeutic treatments in the field of biomedical engineering in order to improve an individual’s quality of life. Neuroethics in particular has become a big topic of debate as researchers gradually decode the complex organism called the human brain. The brain has long been an enigma, its intricate inner workings perplexing even the most scholarly of intellectuals for decades. Recent advancements in neuroimaging, brain implants, and scientists’ increased knowledge of basic human psychology concerning the bases of individual behavior and personality have led to the fear that this new gained information has the potential to be misused by governments and other entities. Ethicist fear that the same devices meant to help patients suffering from devastating neural diseases could be manipulated to breach one’s privacy. Devices and treatments used to cure or alleviate effects of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, or perhaps to help those who have mental illnesses or impairments could be used to decipher one’s hidden thoughts, and even used as a way to discriminate against someone based on one’s religious beliefs and values. The main areas of Neuroethics that have caused concern are brain implants and medical devices, neuroimaging, and brain machine interfacing.
Implantable brain or neural devices are an exciting rapidly growing research area in class of biomedical devices. Brain implants usually function by interfering w...
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... of the brain and the more complex interworking’s of the human mind. As a result the field of Neuroscience is making strides in medicine and engineering at an astounding rate with no prospect of slowing down in the near future. With such great innovation in biomedical engineering concerning brain implants, neuroimaging, and brain machine interfacing meant to improve the quality of life of individuals. The potential misuse of this technology is of great concern. As engineers grow closer to producing brain scanners that can read someone’s mind or neuroimaging machines that can be used to predict behavior and influence thoughts and emotions, Neuroethics must be a moral compass at the forefront of the field of biomedical engineering in area of neuroscience to ensure that ultimately the rights and privacy of the individuals the technology is meant to help are protected.
The use of bioethics to alter one’s physical and mental happiness is portrayed as deceitful to many. This critical analysis evaluates an essay that pledges justification for self-improvement as morally right. The essay, “Bioengineering and Self-Improvement,” was written by Arthur Caplan, professor of bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania and director of the Center for Bioethics. As presented in the essay, the author supports using technology in improving one’s vigor and appearance. In fact, he declares that bioengineering improves one’s self through boosting confidence and self-respect.
In “The Brain on Trial”, David Eagleman argues that the justice system needs to change due to advances in neuroscience. Eagleman uses a variety of rhetorical strategies to present his viewpoint. The most important one is his use of examples and reasoning. Therefore, by using mostly examples and reasoning, along with direct address to the readers, Eagleman is able to argue that the legal system has to modify its sentencing policies in accordance with advances in neuroscience due to the increase in the amount of accused and/or convicted people who have been found to have harbored some kind of brain disease or damage. In other words, their actions were not entirely voluntary.
There has been some ethical issues surrounding the development and use of technology, that would consist of some advancements, such as “when in vitro fertilization is applied in medical practice and leads to the production of spare embryos, the moral question is what to do with these embryos” (Shi & Singh, 2008, p. 182). As for ethical dilemmas that comes into play with “gene mapping of humans, genetic cloning, stem cell research, and others areas of growing interest to scientist” (Shi & Singh, 2008, p. 182). “Life support technology raises serious ethical issues, especially in medical decisions regarding continuation or cessation of mechanical support, particularly when a patient exists in a permanent vegetative state” (Shi & Singh, 2008, p. 182). Health care budgets are limited throughout this world, making it hard for advancements yet even harder to develop the advancements with restraints. Which brings us back to the “social, ethical, and legal constraints, public and private insurers face the problem deciding whether or not to cover novel treatments” 188. Similarly what was mentioned before the decisions about “new reproductive techniques such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection in vitro fertilization (ICSIIVF), new molecular genetics predictive tests for hereditary breast cancer, and the newer drugs such as sildenafil (Viagra) for sexual dysfunction” (Giacomini, 2005).
How can the brain be a mind, a conscious person? Recently, some philosophers have argued that human consciousness and cognitive activity, including even our moral cognition and behavior, can best be explained using a connectionist or neural network model of the brain (see Churchland 1995; Dennett 1991 and 1996). (1) Is this right? Can a mass of networked neurons produce moral human agents? I shall argue that it can; a brain can be morally excellent. A connectionist account of how the brain works can explain how a person might be morally excellent in Aristotle's sense of that term.
"When they are finally attempted…genetic manipulations will…be done to change a death sentence into a life verdict." In agreeing with this quote by James D. Watson, director of the Human Genome Project, I affirm today’s resolution, "Human genetic engineering is morally justified." I will now present a few definitions. Human genetic engineering is the altering, removal, or addition of genes through genetic processes. Moral is "pertaining to right conduct; ethical." Justified is to be "proper; well-deserved." Therefore, something that is morally justified is ethically beneficial. My value today will be cost-benefit justice. When we examine the benefits that human genetic engineering provides to society, these benefits will outweigh any costs and will thus affirming the resolution will provide for justice. I will now present one observation—the existence of human genetic engineering will not be without limits. Patrick Ferreira, the director of medical genetics at the University of Alabama Hospitals, notes that a "technological imperative [states] that the development of extraordinary powers does not automatically authorize their use." In other words, the point of technology is to be careful, and as with any technology, a society will be meticulous in its understanding of human genetic engineering. I will now present 3 contentions that uphold my value of cost benefit justice.
How far is society willing to advance genetic enhancement technology before it becomes a moral wrong? Medical technology is well on the way to allowing parents to create designer babies, permitting parents to pick physical and internal qualities of unborn children. Due to the advance in technology allowing parents to genetically designer their own child, The American Medical Association (AMA) should create stronger codes of medical ethics and acts imposing limitations. The manipulating with embryos in order to create a parent’s ideal child is morally wrong, and should be against codes of ethics. In order to create a fine line between enhancement that prevents disease and birth defects, and the self-absorbed society that prefers children with little to no flaws; laws of ethics in medical practice need to be implemented. Therefore, with distinguished lines on medical ethics, society will not become divided and unrecognizable due to genetically enhanced humans.
Any attempts to deal with brain and human memory brings up ethical questions. Brain surgery and high-risk come hand-in-hand. Even the smallest of mistakes in brain surgery can often lead to casualties with people encountering disabilities like problems with speech, vision, coordination, coma and perhaps even death. With this in mind, a person is forced to rethink the idea of getting a brain surgery a hundred times. There is also the aspect this technology being misused. This system in the hand of an ill-minded person can lead to a huge disaster that can lead to chips being implanted into a person’s mind that can perhaps control the person partly or
The two controversial topics discussed below share a single goal: to enhance the quality of life of a human individual. The first topic, transhumanism, is a largely theoretical movement that involves the advancement of the human body through scientific augmentations of existing human systems. This includes a wide variety of applications, such as neuropharmacology to enhance the function of the human brain, biomechanical interfaces to allow the human muscles to vastly out-perform their unmodified colleagues, and numerous attempts to greatly extend, perhaps indefinitely, the human lifespan. While transhumanist discussion is predominantly a thinking exercise, it brings up many important ethical dilemmas that may face human society much sooner than the advancements transhumanism desires to bring into reality. The second topic, elective removal of healthy limbs at the request of the patient, carries much more immediate gravity. Sufferers of a mental condition known as Body Integrity Identity Disorder seek to put to rest the disturbing disconnect between their internal body image and their external body composition. This issue is often clouded by sensationalism and controversy in the media, and is therefore rarely discussed in a productive manner (Bridy). This lack of discussion halts progress and potentially limits citizens' rights, as legislation is enacted without sufficient research. The primary arguments against each topic are surprisingly similar; an expansion on both transhumanism and elective amputation follows, along with a discussion of the merit of those arguments. The reader will see how limits placed on both transhumanism and elective amputation cause more harm to whole of human society than good.
As the scientific field of Neuroscience develops and expands, so too does the discipline of Neuroethics. This new and emerging area of study aims to discuss the ethical applications of advancements in neuroscience. Over the past few decades, technological advancements in neuroscience have risen sharply. Every day, scientist’s understanding of the human mind increases exponentially. New technologies grant researchers the ability to make cognitive enhancements, carry out brain imaging and provide the human brain with a variety of different services. Neuroethics attempts to bridge the capabilities of science, with the social and ethical climate of today’s world. New advancements in what scientists can do, such as Brain Imaging, Cognitive enhancement, pharmacological enhancement of mood, and brain machine interfaces and non-pharmacological enhancement must be carefully examined to determine their proper and ethical usage.
20 Feb. 2014. Nardo, Don. A. Biomedical Ethics.
...ing of the brain itself. The legal system has to follow brain research. While we may not find exactly where the "I" is, we can become much closer to understanding what disorders truly effect the ability to understand one's actions and be held accountable for them.
Suppose you are at the hospital and notice a patient sitting outside his doctor’s office. The painful expression on his face shows that he had just received dreadful news. His doctor had informed that the HIV virus that was present in his cells had mutated into AIDS and his life is in serious danger. There is one procedure that could perhaps save his life. However, this method has never been tested on humans. This operation involves nanoparticles killing the virus and saving the man’s life. Biomedical engineers who discovered this process are convinced that this process can be extremely painful for the patient since the patient is not allowed to be under anesthesia. Nevertheless, doctor’s are not assured whether the treatment could save or
Biomedical engineering is the application of engineering techniques to biology and medicine to improve healthcare and medical products. Since their work mainly consists of research and development, biomedical engineers work in manufacturing, universities, and research facilities. There are not many educational requirements or job experience needed to enter this field. However, biomedical engineers often benefit from having a large number of degrees and work experience.
Scientists and the general population favor genetic engineering because of the effects it has for the future generation; the advanced technology has helped our society to freely perform any improvements. Genetic engineering is currently an effective yet dangerous way to make this statement tangible. Though it may sound easy and harmless to change one’s genetic code, the conflicts do not only involve the scientific possibilities but also the human morals and ethics. When the scientists first used mice to practice this experiment, they “improved learning and memory” but showed an “increased sensitivity to pain.” The experiment has proven that while the result are favorable, there is a low percentage of success rate. Therefore, scientists have concluded that the resources they currently own will not allow an approval from the society to continually code new genes. While coding a new set of genes for people may be a benefitting idea, some people oppose this idea.
The greatest innovations that will improve and help save lives starts with a field that integrates the principles of engineering into medical uses. Biomedical engineers produce the modern technologies that medical professionals use today. They usually have four to six year college degrees, make around eighty to hundred and ten thousand dollars annually, and are typically employed by hospitals, privates companies, and universities.