Preview

The Pros And Cons Of Biomedical Engineering

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
542 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Pros And Cons Of Biomedical Engineering
In the year 1986 a health care policy was established. This policy is known as the “Health Care Engineering Policy Committee”. Carl Mitchem (1990) describes that this policy was made to safeguard humans from engineering experiments. He also states that a good decision making process should be endured before ultimately proceeding with these practices. (p. 229) Although this policy was made in order to keep people safe from engineering practices, we still face ethical dilemmas due to the engineering profession simply not following this policy. A very common controversial topic within the career of biomedical engineering is genetics. Within biomedical engineering comes what is known as “germline engineering”. In this branch engineers partake in cell and modifications. Dr. Philip Brey (2009) refers to this is as a “more controversial practice in which genes in eggs, sperm or …show more content…
2) Knowing that this practice has long term side effects they are not even aware of, engineers continue to risk lives and humanity as a whole. Although this branch of engineering can enhance and perhaps protect a human from infections and diseases, many people object this type of practice due to the fact that it is seen as “playing the role of God.” People believe it is not ethical thus creating an ongoing dilemma. Another controversial practice within the biomedical engineering profession is tissue engineering. This practice involves the use and modification of organs and tissue to grow an artificial organ to implant into other humans to further sustain life. To sustain life can alway be an excellent thing, but engineers don’t seem to think about the consequences that come with such unethical practices. Dr. Brey (2009) states that this engineer practice is rather controversial due to the fact that the cells and tissue used to create this artificial organ are from a mix of humans, plants, and animals. The origin of each human part of the organ is tissue of embryos of aborted

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Most people would concede that cloning and genetic enhancements are two notorious words that most would not consent with. In Mr. Kass’s article “Preventing Brave New World” commences on the astonishing achievements in bio-medical science and technology. Mr. Leon E. Kass agrees that people should be obliged for the breakthrough of advanced bio medical science and technology. Mr. Kass’s incredible work in bio-ethical science has placed this very well known philosopher in the white house with the Bush’s administration. Mr. Kass mentions in his article that we live in a world where transforming powers are already being applied in the 20th century, For example; In vitro fertilization, bottled embryos wombs, surrogate wombs, cloning, genetic screening,…

    • 1985 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Embryonic Stem Cell Research Is Not Ethical. Dennis P. Hollinger. At Issue: The Ethics of Genetic Engineering. Ed. Maurya Siedler. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005.…

    • 2675 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    James Gallagher, a health editor for BBC News which is ranked as one of the most objective and credible U.S news sources, constructed an article called “Designer babies' debate should start, scientists say” (January 15, 2015). Within this source, Gallagher claims that leading scientists have told BBC that based on the current progress in the understanding of genetics, society needs to be prepared to come to terms with the ethics that surround the concept. In order to provide foundation for his argument, Gallagher brings up questionably unethical scenarios relating to designer babies, and adds what some scientists that work closely with genetics have to say about the topic. For instance, Gallagher added the opinion of Dr. Tony Perry, a professor…

    • 420 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Hsm 542 Week 1&2 Discussion

    • 45403 Words
    • 182 Pages

    | Given a situation related to reproductive genetics, genetic research, or the human genome project, develop a set of legal and ethical guidelines, which can be applied to genetic issues for the conduct of medical practice and/or research.…

    • 45403 Words
    • 182 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Embryos are essentially microscopic human beings. Regardless of what good they may provide to the field of medicine, the ethical controversies surrounding embryonic stem cell research are profound. Stem cells, the cells used by the human body to replenish damaged tissue, are found in both embryonic and adult form. At the adult level, stem cells can be extracted from bone marrow, but the real ethical debate arises when embryonic stem cells are introduced. “Pluripotent” embryonic stem cells are among the only type that can form any of over 200 cell types, making it the most useful and versatile. These cells are isolated from the inner cell mass of the embryo when extracted, and subsequently terminates the embryo itself, which is technically manslaughter. However, it must also be noted that embryonic stem cell research can provide effective treatments and even cures for those in need of organ transplants and other irremediable predicaments. Therefore, it is safe to say, from a utilitarian perspective, that the essential “death” of one embryo can save the lives of many, and with Jeremy Bentham’s phrase “the greatest good for the greatest number”; I believe that embryonic stem cell research is ethical.…

    • 1044 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Doctors, researchers, patients and virtually anyone interested in the future of medicine are intrigued by the key role human embryonic stem cell research could have in curing well-known diseases such as cancer. As much as people are curious about how it could advance medicine in incredible ways, there remains the issue of whether finding a cure using human embryos is ethically sound. The answer to this question is heavily dependent on what status society should accord to the human embryo. Bonnie Steinbock’s “The science, policy, and ethics of stem cell research” is an article published on Reproductive BioMedicine Online that digs deep into this ongoing ethical conflict.…

    • 1391 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The only thing worse than needing an organ? transplant is the waiting list. The average wait time for a heart transplant is four months and the wait time for a kidney extends to around five years. This issue is being addressed by scientist with the intention of changing the future. Tissue engineering is on the verge of becoming one of the most vital resources in medicine; it has a growing importance in organ and cartilage replacement and is being further advanced by scientist daily.…

    • 947 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    English 112 Essay

    • 1670 Words
    • 7 Pages

    In the essay, titled "Building Baby from the Genes Up?" Ronald M. Green proclaims his approval of genetic selection and extraction of human genes. He gives reasons that support his outlook on the matter, that this will be useful to civilization. Ronald M. Green is in violation of several ethical codes, with his view on genetic modification. I am against genetically modified humans, and I will explain to you, why this is my stance on the subject. First, I will summarize exactly what Ronald M. Green says in his article about his view on genetic modification and why practicing it is vital. Second, I will describe research involving human embryos and the disadvantages that genetic modification could possess for the future of human species by using research. Third, I will give you my viewpoint of why genetic modification is unethical and morally disturbing.…

    • 1670 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Genetic engineering often gets a bad rap with changing the natural evolutionary cycle, but it could, with proper guidance, improve almost every aspect of daily life. Advances in the Biotech Revolution have made many things that we had merely considered to be science fiction or a thing of dreams are now possible.The fact of the matter is that genetic engineering is applicable to everyday life while still being ethical and inline with people’s morals.…

    • 1069 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    What right does man have to accuse another of such a dastardly feat? It is nearly an undoubtable fact that one day man and technology will form a unity and biotechnology will become integrated into everyday life. Man has no right to play God, but man also has no right to attack every technological breakthrough with controversy and radical accusations. “Playing God” is a cliché that has become all too common in the present day. Man has every natural right to alter and improve itself as a race through biomedical augmentations. It is inevitable that technological breakthroughs will have widespread effects on the fields of biology and physiology. Biotechnological developments will also lead to grave changes in global commerce and consumerism within a span as short as the next 20 years. Theological and ethical arguments against replacing the natural human form do not possess the factual backing, nor the rationale, to effectively make the accusation that man is “playing God” with its inevitable biotechnologies and procedures. The human body has near-unlimited capabilities as a biotechnological receptor, and the possibility that this will become a reality is up to society. If humanity can accept the technologic lifestyle it is destined toward, then ethical debates and moral rationales will finally stop getting in the way of scientific…

    • 797 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    As research continues to uncover new disease-causing mutations, the prospect of stopping the transmission of heritable diseases increases. With the use of modern technology, expecting parents can now be prescreened in order to determine their carrier status for certain diseases. Parents who choose to use in vitro fertilization are able to choose embryos that are free of disease due to preimplantation genetic diagnosis. Additionally, parents can be provided with information on their unborn child with the use of prenatal genetic testing. Some individuals view modern genetic technology as eugenic; however, this biggest difference between eugenics now and eugenics during the 1900s is consent. Today individuals pursue genetic testing by choice and policies on ethics and consent prevent reoccurrences of the immoral endeavors within the field of…

    • 585 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Satire On Cloning

    • 586 Words
    • 3 Pages

    For many years, scientists have been experimenting in the field of cloning. Cloning uses an egg cell and a somatic cell to make a duplicate copy of the organism. It is currently a highly controversial topic in the scientific world. Many people can benefit from cloning. From farmers to patients, not only does cloning help scientists discover more about genetics, it will also help a lot of people. However, there are also ethical issues with cloning, such as the use of embryonic stem cells and cross-species hybrids. For instance, at the Salk institute, a human-pig embryo was recently made and destroyed. The purpose of the experiment was to see if human organs could be grown inside a pig. The authors believe that we are still far off from accomplishing cloning of human organs in animals. I believe that cloning will help this world, but there needs to be restrictions on human cloning and cross-breeding.…

    • 586 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Science has now reached a point where upcoming parents can choose what type of genes their children can be born with and not realizing that it can go terribly wrong.While trying to modify our babies the ending result can create a new illness that might not have a cure for it. According to Sheldon Krimsky “with respect to the farmer, there are safer and more dependable methods for preventing the birth of a child with a severe genetic abnormality than by genetic modification of the germ cell”. Modifying our babies can create an illness that will inquire a cure that won’t be existing but these babies will also create a gap in our society.…

    • 616 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In the past thirty years, humans are witnessing a huge revolution in the genetic engineering industry. Having identified most of the Human Genome, gene sequencing has become programmed and extremely fast, and laboratory techniques in molecular biology allow for in-vitro fertilization and transfer of genetic material. Gene therapy and repair based on stem cells research allows for replacement of a defected allele in the DNA, and even a whole damaged tissue in the patient. In general, it is accurate to say that genetic engineering is a controversial topic about which people tend to have strong opinions. The genetic engineering issues that mainly catch the attention of the moral community involve the pre-birth improvement of human fetuses. The ability to screen for detectable diseases is already available in the laboratories. Fertility clinics are also currently able to satisfy the need of a couple for conceiving a male or female child, following the parents’ request, but this is routine compared to the potential of genetic engineering, whose avant-garde aim is the selection of specific traits such as hair color, height and even intelligence. It is this selection that is the most fascinating upshot of advances in genetic engineering, but also the most difficult genetic issue facing the moral society.…

    • 1595 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    If the modification is performed improperly the damage inflicted could prove to be irreversible. At one point when testing on animals it has been shown that “germline introduction of an improperly regulated normal gene resulted in pogency of the modified animal with no obvious effects on development, but enhanced tumor incidence during adult life” (Hall 162). Along with the fact that “although such methods may be undertaken to fabricate improved humans, in some cases, by accident or intent, the outcomes will be quasi-human or less than human” (Hall 164) people are hesitant to make this method of medicine wide spread. Another reason why people are worried about the mass populace utilizing this technology is due to the fact that some may consider it “a satanic act of disbelief and corruption that would change the nature with which God created human beings” (Sachedina 190). Other ethical concerns may include the “deep-seated fear of the further deterioration of social and familial values” (Sachedina 192) that could possibly occur through the overuse of cloning and genetic engineering technology. As a result of these factors concerned individuals have spoken out against the use of such technologies in favor of safer and more commonly accepted methods of curing the ill and providing crops for…

    • 1423 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays

Related Topics