Increasingly, biomedical scientists and engineers are involved in projects, design, or research and development that involve humans or animals. The book presents general concepts on professionalism and the regulation of the profession of engineering, including a discussion on what is ethics and moral conduct, ethical theories and the codes of ethics that are most relevant for engineers. An ethical decision-making process is suggested. Other issues such as conflicts of interest, plagiarism, intellectual property, confidentiality, privacy, fraud, and corruption are presented. General guidelines, the process for obtaining ethics approval from Ethics Review Boards, and the importance of obtaining informed consent from volunteers recruited for studies are presented. A discussion on research with animals is included. Ethical dilemmas focus on reproductive technologies, stem cells, cloning, genetic testing, and designer babies. The book includes a discussion on ethics and the technologies ofbody enhancement and of regeneration. The importance of assessing the impact of technology on people, society, and on our planet is stressed. Particular attention is given to nanotechnologies, the environment, and issues that pertain to developing countries. Ideas on gender, culture, and ethics focus on how research and access to medical services have, at times, been discriminatory towards women. The cultural aspects focus on organ transplantation in Japan, and a case study of an Aboriginal child in Canada; both examples show the impact that culture can have on how care is provided or accepted. The final section of the book discusses data collection and analysis and offers a guideline for honest reporting of results, avoiding fraud, or unethical approaches. The appendix presents a few case studies where fraud and/or unethical research have occurred. Table of Contents: Introduction to Ethics / Experiments with Human Subjects or Animals / Examples of Ethical Dilemmas in Biomedical Research / Technology and Society / Gender, Culture, and Ethics / Data Collection and Analysis
Monique Frize is a Distinguished Professor at Carleton and Professor Emerita at University of Ottawa. She was a biomedical engineer for 18 years in hospitals (1971-1989) and a professor in electrical and biomedical engineering since 1989. Monique Frize published over 200 papers in journals and conference proceedings on artificial intelligence in medicine, infrared imaging, ethics and women in engineering and science. She is Senior Member of IEEE, Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (1992), Fellow of Engineers Canada (2010), Officer of the Order of Canada (1993) and recipient of the 2010 Gold Medal from Professional Engineers Ontario and the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers. On January 1, 2012, she will be a Fellow of IEEE for her work in clinical engineering and engineering education. She received five honorary doctorates in Canadian universities since 1992. Her book: The Bold and the Brave: A history of women in science and engineering was released by University ofOttawa Press in November 2009.
