BENEFITS OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERS IN SOCIETY
Biomedical Engineering is a relatively modern career compared to traditional doctors and surgeons. Biomedical engineering was introduced to the medical field in order to improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients, whatever their condition may be.
Primarily, Biomedical Engineers can achieve this goal through the use of technology. Most of the equipment that can be seen at the doctors office or at the hospital is typically designed by biomedical engineers in order to optimize its use in a medical environment. The machinery that is found in each individual patient room is also designed by biomedical engineers due to their understanding of design, innovation and medicine.
Biomedical engineers design devices that are highly sensitive instruments which is very important today, in order to get the best results. For example the ultimate precision would be preferred when taking readings of a patients blood pressure, heart rate and levels of different chemicals in the body. This helps analyze the patients condition to its utmost accuracy. Some other devices that biomedical engineers play a role in designing are MRI machines, ultra-sound devices, and surgical instruments designed to operate inside the human body.
Although doctors are the ones who utilize the equipment, it is the engineers job to ensure that the instrument can perform the task required by the procedure or operation. Because of this, biomedical engineers often work very closely with surgeons and doctors that require such equipment.
Primarily, Biomedical Engineers can achieve this goal through the use of technology. Most of the equipment that can be seen at the doctors office or at the hospital is typically designed by biomedical engineers in order to optimize its use in a medical environment. The machinery that is found in each individual patient room is also designed by biomedical engineers due to their understanding of design, innovation and medicine.
Biomedical engineers design devices that are highly sensitive instruments which is very important today, in order to get the best results. For example the ultimate precision would be preferred when taking readings of a patients blood pressure, heart rate and levels of different chemicals in the body. This helps analyze the patients condition to its utmost accuracy. Some other devices that biomedical engineers play a role in designing are MRI machines, ultra-sound devices, and surgical instruments designed to operate inside the human body.
Although doctors are the ones who utilize the equipment, it is the engineers job to ensure that the instrument can perform the task required by the procedure or operation. Because of this, biomedical engineers often work very closely with surgeons and doctors that require such equipment.
ETHICAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES WITH BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING (CONSEQUENCES)
With is novelty in the health care sector, biomedical engineers have been able to introduce a wide array of innovative technology to help diagnose and treat patient illnesses. In the light of this rapidly growing field, the society is forced to revaluate the meaning of terms like death, quality of life, and heroic efforts. Health care professionals must also understand the patients’ right to refuse treatment and their willingness to participate in experiments (with informed consent). These advancements have continued to add more complex moral dilemmas to society as a whole.
As technology continues to advance, the healthcare system continually relies on researchers to produce improvements in patient therapy. When new technology is introduced, it has a large social impact and sets new treatment standards. At the same time, society expects a researcher to maintain their ethical and moral conduct in what they do to innovate such technology. However it is a reality that bioengineering health professionals only focus on the end goal as opposed to the moral sacrifices that are involved.
An example of an ethical issue would be animal testing. It can be universally agreed upon that performing possibly detrimental tests on an animal for the benefit and health of a human is downright unfair. In today's society there are several individuals who would be severely disturbed by the idea of biotechnology being tested on animals. However there are also individuals who only care about the product rather than the process. In the end, it all comes down to the individual and their ethical feelings about the issue.
As technology continues to advance, the healthcare system continually relies on researchers to produce improvements in patient therapy. When new technology is introduced, it has a large social impact and sets new treatment standards. At the same time, society expects a researcher to maintain their ethical and moral conduct in what they do to innovate such technology. However it is a reality that bioengineering health professionals only focus on the end goal as opposed to the moral sacrifices that are involved.
An example of an ethical issue would be animal testing. It can be universally agreed upon that performing possibly detrimental tests on an animal for the benefit and health of a human is downright unfair. In today's society there are several individuals who would be severely disturbed by the idea of biotechnology being tested on animals. However there are also individuals who only care about the product rather than the process. In the end, it all comes down to the individual and their ethical feelings about the issue.