Abstract
Emerging technologies raise hopes and concerns about their potential consequences for societies. How will neurotechnologies affect our social standards of normality? How will new diagnostic technologies change the doctor-patient relationship? How should we deal with the privacy issues raised by biobanking? How will the data flow in brain-computer interface systems be protected? Asking these types of exploratory questions is important for modern societies in order to be prepared when these problems arise, and to guide citizens, policy-makers and technology developers to be more reflexive about their work (Grunwald 2010; Kass 2003). In this spirit, Western societies have, in the last decade, tried to investigate the so-called ethical, legal and social issues (ELSI) raised by new technologies.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Bijker, W.E., Hughes, T.P., and Pinch, T.J. (1987) The Social Construction of Technological Systems: New Directions in the Sociology and History of Technology (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press).
Borup, M., Brown, N., Konrad, K., and Van Lente, H. (2006) ‘The Sociology of Expectations in Science and Technology’, Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, 18(3–4): 285–98.
Brown, N., Rappert, B., and Webster, A. (2000) Contested Futures: A Sociology of Prospective Techno-Science (Aldershot: Ashgate).
Brown, N. and Michael, M. (2003) ‘A Sociology of Expectations: Retrospect-ing Prospects and Prospecting Retrospects’, Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, 15(1): 3–18.
Geels, F.W. and Smits, W.A. (2000) ‘Failed Technology Futures: Pitfalls and Lessons from a Historical Survey’, Futures, 32(9–10): 867–885.
Grunwald, A. (2010) ‘From Speculative Nanoethics to Explorative Philosophy of Nanotechnology’, NanoEthics, 4(2), 91–101.
Hedgecoe, A. and Martin, P. (2003) ‘The Drugs Don’t Work: Expectations and the Shaping of Pharmacogenetics’, Social Studies of Science, 33(3): 327–64.
Hedgecoe, A. (2010) ‘Bioethics and the Reinforcement of Socio-technical Expectations’, Social Studies of Science, 40(2): 163–86.
Kass, L.R. (2003) ‘Ageless Bodies, Happy Souls: Biotechnology and the Pursuit of Perfection’, New Atlantis, Spring (1): 9–28.
Little, S. (2006) ‘FDA Regulations and Novel Molecular Diagnostic Tests’, Clinical Laboratory International, 7: 48–9.
Nordmann, A. and Rip, A. (2009) ‘Mind the Gap Revisited’, Nature Nanotechnology, 4(5): 273–4.
Nordmann, A. (2007) ‘If and Then: A Critique of Speculative NanoEthics’, NanoEthics, 1(1): 31–46.
Selin, C. (2007) ‘Expectations and the Emergence of Nanotechnology’, Science, Technology & Human Values, 32(2): 196–220.
Stafford, P., Halperin, R., Legutki, J. B., Magee, D. M., Galgiani, J., and Johnston, S. A. (2012) ‘Physical Characterization of the “Immunosignaturing Effect”’, Molecular & Cellular Proteomics, 11(4): M111.011593.
Swift, A. (2001) Political Philosophy: A Beginners’ Guide for Students and Statesmen (Oxford: Polity).
Tenner, E. (1996) Why Things Bite Back: Technology and the Revenge of Unintended Consequences (New York: Knopf).
Van Lente, H. (1993) Promising Technology: The Dynamics of Expectations in Technological Developments (Enschede: Universiteit Twente).
Van Merkerk, R. and Robinson, D. (2006) ‘Characterizing the Emergence of a Technological Field: Expectations, Agendas and Networks in Lab-on-a-chip Technologies’, Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, 18(3/4): 411–28.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2013 Federica Lucivero
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Lucivero, F. (2013). The Promises of Emerging Diagnostics: From Scientists’ Visions to the Laboratory Bench and Back. In: van der Burg, S., Swierstra, T. (eds) Ethics on the Laboratory Floor. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137002938_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137002938_9
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-43407-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-00293-8
eBook Packages: Palgrave Social Sciences CollectionSocial Sciences (R0)