Project 9: Nanoethics and diagnostics
Principal Investigator: Dr Dónal O'Mathúna
Project Description
New diagnostic devices take advantage of a number of developing biotechnologies. Some of these fall within the field of nanotechnology. In general, nanotechnology is attracting much interest and large amounts of investment. However, the technologies also raise many ethical issues which, to date, have received insufficient investigation. One of the main concerns centres on the risk/benefit ratio of nanoparticles. One approach to assessing risk, called the Precautionary Principle, has been proposed to urge caution in the face of uncertainty. A fuller ethical evaluation of this principle is needed, especially when nanotechnology promises to bring so many benefits.
Such ethical issues relate to 'normal nanotechnology', as distinguished from 'futuristic nanotechnology.' The latter are more commonly raised in science fiction which has been criticised for its approach to nanoethics. Popular media like film have been accused of painting an overly pessimistic perspective of nanotechnology. These tend to raise issues of medicalisation and medical enhancement. As smaller diagnostic devices allow widespread monitoring of more biological markers, the impact of such monitoring on patients and the healthcare system needs to be examined. Nano-implants will go beyond diagnosing and treating illnesses to enhancing 'normal' function. Is such enhancement ethical? If so, to what extent?
Some claim nanotechnology will allow humans to evolve into a new and better species (posthumanism; transhumanism). What are the ethical implications of such visions for current researchers? While the technology for such developments lies in the future, the ethical and philosophical framework for such visions is being developed currently. Whether or not such visions are good for patients and society needs to be examined carefully and critically.
Role of the Student
The student will undertake a literature review to identify ethical issues raised by nanotechnology, especially those which pertain most directly to diagnostics. The overview will also present the approaches that have been taken towards resolving these ethical issues. The student will examine how nanoethics has been presented in various media, including newspapers and film, and compare this to more academic literature.
How project fits in with overall objective of research group
The student will spend time engaging with both the ethics literature and various forms of narrative to identify different types of ethical issues raised by new diagnostic devices. The various approaches used to resolve these issues will be examined leading to a review of the main ethical arguments. Time will also be spent engaging with the role of narrative (film, novels, drama, music, etc.) in examining ethical issues. A catalogue will be produced of various resources that could be used in teaching about the ethical issues with diagnostic devices. The student will also write case scenarios or other literary items that could be used in raising awareness of ethical issues and in promoting dialogue about ways to respond to the issues.
