Biomedical Ethics for Engineers - Hardcover

Daniel A. Vallero

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0750682272 ISBN 13: 9780750682275

Publisher: Academic Press, 2007

Synopsis

Biomedical Ethics for Engineers provides biomedical engineers with a new set of tools and an understanding that the application of ethical measures will seldom reach consensus even among fellow engineers and scientists. The solutions are never completely technical, so the engineer must continue to improve the means of incorporating a wide array of societal perspectives, without sacrificing sound science and good design principles.
Dan Vallero understands that engineering is a profession that profoundly affects the quality of life from the subcellular and nano to the planetary scale. Protecting and enhancing life is the essence of ethics; thus every engineer and design professional needs a foundation in bioethics. In high-profile emerging fields such as nanotechnology, 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. This book discusses the full suite of emerging biomedical and environmental issues that must be addressed by engineers and scientists within a global and societal context. In addition it gives technical professionals tools to recognize and address bioethical questions and illustrates that an understanding of the application of these measures will seldom reach consensus even among fellow engineers and scientists.

· Working tool for biomedical engineers in the new age of technology
· Numerous case studies to illustrate the direct application of ethical techniques and standards
· Ancillary materials available online for easy integration into any academic program

About this title

Book Description

The only book to address the growing need to prepare engineers for emerging biomedical ethical issues

From the Back Cover

When is an action morally permissible and what kinds of behavior are morally obligatory? What must a professional do to be trusted? What is the role of values in bioethical decisions? What does it mean to be a good engineer? Is research using human pluripotent stem cells ethical?

All engineers, whether working or studying directly in the biomedical or a complementary engineering field, are certain to face challenging bioethical challenges such these. Biomedical Ethics for Engineers addresses the need for engineers to develop an understanding of the impact of engineering solutions from the individual engineer’s professional perspective, as well as within the global and societal context.

Key features:

· Meets the needs of students taking upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses in professional ethics, risk assessment, and specific ethics courses in engineering, environmental science, medicine and technology

· Provides a proactive set of approaches that apply deductive and intuitive reasoning to engineering decision making within the framework of professional ethics

· Presented in the language and the context of the engineer and other science and design professionals, with issues treated from a design and problem-solving perspective

· Instead of the traditional top-down approach of learning the philosophical basis first and then judging cases accordingly, cases are presented as engineering problems, with solutions determined by design where possible and appropriate

· Supported throughout by case studies and worked examples that illustrate the direct application of ethical techniques and standards, plus frequent discussion points to stimulate debate

· Includes chapter exercises and assignments, with separate Instructor’s Manual available from http//textbooks.elsevier.com
Dr. Daniel Vallero has led the establishment of the Engineering Ethics program at Duke University. This popular and innovative program introduces students to the complex relationships between science, technology and societal demands on the engineer.

Edition details

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0750682272
• ISBN 13: 9780750682275
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 408