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Technology and Bioethics: What Can Scientists and Engineers Do and What Should They Do?

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Healthcare and Biomedical Technology in the 21st Century

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Abstract

There is great potential for scientific and technological development to improve the quality of life and health. However, history has catalogued several instances of the misuse of science and technology and has prompted ethical and moral concerns about possible future abuses. The newest techniques of genetic manipulation have awe-inspiring power to control the growth and development of humans. Decisions made by physicians and patients who are confronting end of life are also replete with ethical questions and uncertainty. For example, should physicians assist patients who wish to commit suicide?

Nothing that you do in science is guaranteed to result in benefits for mankind. Any discovery, I believe, is morally neutral and it can be turned either to constructive ends or destructive ends. That’s not the fault of science.

Arthur W. Galston

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Engineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    George R. Baran

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Mohammad F. Kiani

  3. Orthopedic Surgery Bioengineering Laboratory, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Solomon Praveen Samuel

Authors
  1. George R. Baran
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  2. Mohammad F. Kiani
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  3. Solomon Praveen Samuel
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Baran, G.R., Kiani, M.F., Samuel, S.P. (2014). Technology and Bioethics: What Can Scientists and Engineers Do and What Should They Do?. In: Healthcare and Biomedical Technology in the 21st Century. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8541-4_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8541-4_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-8540-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-8541-4

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