Nanotechnology: is there a need for ethical principles?

Meetoo, Danny

Abstract

Nanotechnology (NT) is concerned with materials and systems
whose structures and components exhibit novel physical, chemical
and biological properties due to their nanoscale size. This new
scientific discipline is fast becoming a major driver of the future
direction of health care and is likely to have a significant impact
on society, medicine and nursing. This article demonstrates that
ethical reflections lie at the heart of nursing. In contextualizing
the ethics of NT, this article questions the conclusion reached
by others that ethical reflections on NT lag behind its scientific
developments. Instead it proposes that the ethical issues raised
by NT are similar to those relating to biotechnology, considered
by ethicists since the 1970s. Consequently, this article argues
that a foundation of ethical reflections already exists that can
be transferred to NT. Finally, this article asserts the need for
nurses to be proactively involved in interdisciplinary discussions
likely to extend the current ethical reflections of autonomy, nonmaleficence,
beneficence and justice to NT.

Citation

Meetoo, D. (2009). Nanotechnology: is there a need for ethical principles?. British Journal of Nursing, 18(20), 1264-1268

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2009
• Deposit Date: May 10, 2011
• Journal: British Journal of Nursing
• Print ISSN: 0966-0461
• Publisher: MA Healthcare
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 20
• Pages: 1264-1268
• Publisher URL: http://www.internurse.com/cgi-bin/go.pl/library/article.cgi?uid=45125;article=BJN_18_20_1264_1268