Moral and Ethical Issues in the Development of Biomaterials and Medical Products

Abstract Engineering ethics often takes the classical approach of preventive ethics. That is, engineering ethics most commonly focuses upon safety and regulation in an attempt to prevent the failure of future products. Such approaches generally rely on sets of standards and guidelines in an attempt to normalize development and ensure safety. While medicine certainly has standards and guidelines that govern and normalize its practice, as well as holding safety in the highest regard, the manner in which ethical issues are addressed by medical professionals often differs from the strategies used by engineers and scientists. As medical issues are complex, and focus primarily upon the treatment of individuals rather than the development of products or interpretation of research results, medical ethics has a strong emphasis on core values in decision making as well as on respect for the autonomy and wellbeing of the patient.