Biomedical Ethics for Engineers

In high-profile emerging fields such as biotechnology and green engineering, public concerns and attitudes become especially crucial factors given the inherent uncertainties and high stakes involved. Ethics thus means more than a commitment to abide by professional norms of conduct. It also requires an understanding of the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context. Technical professionals must recognize and address ethical questions involving institutional design, stakeholder relations, culture, and governance. Recent publications by the National Academy of Engineering have called for greater social responsibility on the part of engineers. Several professional and scientific societies including American Medical Association, National Society of Professional Engineers, Biomedical Engineering Society, American Institute of Mechanical Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers, and Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers are showing a growing interest in improving ethics among their members. This book will provide professional engineers, scientists and researchers as well as engineering students with a comprehensive primer in response to this calling for greater responsibility. It is a working tool for biomedical engineers in the new age of technology. It includes numerous case studies to illustrate the direct application of ethical techniques and standards. Ancillary materials available are online for easy integration into any academic program.