how do technologies related to microorganisms suggest ethical conflicts? course hero

by Carlos Pfeffer I 4 min read

How does microbiome research affect society?

What is the microbiome?

Why is it important to collect data on outbreaks?

What is the authority to employ human subjects in research?

Why is confidentiality important in medicine?

Is the microbiome a vector of disease?

Is the human microbiome being used?

See 4 more

About this website

(PDF) Ethical issues in microbiology - ResearchGate

This requires awareness about the existing ethical guidelines in India and around the world in order to be able to formulate the conditions under which they may be applied in public health practice.

Ethical issues in microbiome research and medicine - PubMed

The human microbiome is the collection of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that live on and in the human organism's skin, mucosa, and intestinal tract. Re-examining commonly accepted ethical standards from the perspective of this new area of research provides an opportunity to reassess our current think …

Ethical issues in microbiology - PubMed

Ethical issues facing microbiologists could be considered in two parts. The first relates to the way the ethical issues during their laboratory work. The second pertains to ethical issues on the data/reports they generate for the patients or in research. In both segments, there is pressure to perfor …

⚠️ Ethical considerations in the use of microorganisms — hazards ...

The use of microorganisms has a multi-fold hazard perspective. Some microorganisms are inherently pathogenic and very dangerous to humans e.g. anthrax by Bacillus anthracis. Others, and arguably most others, are not expected to have any negative effect on humans. However, given that some species turn pathogenic in some situations, it is a good idea to treat these other species as potentially ...

microbiology - what are the ethical considerations when preparing a ...

I cannot think of any ethical issues associated with preparing a bacterial culture to test antibiotic resistance. The bacteria I am using is Bacillus Megaterium so its not pathogenic. Thanks in ad...

How does microbiome research affect society?

Learning about the microbiome will change how medicine is practiced . It may also have implications for our social and legal systems and for how we conceive the ethics of medicine and biomedical research. Therefore, it is important to identify the ethical, legal, and social implications raised by human microbiome research in order to advise both the scientists engaged in the work and members of society who will participate in studies and live with the consequences .

What is the microbiome?

The human microbiome is the collection of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that live on and in the human organism’s skin, mucosa, and intestinal tract. Re-examining commonly accepted ethical standards from the perspective of this new area of research provides an opportunity to reassess our current thinking about research regulations as well as ...

Why is it important to collect data on outbreaks?

Data collection on disease outbreaks, births, and deaths is and will be critical in the design and implementation of effective disease prevention, outbreak control, and disaster response . Effective public health measures are based on data, but gathering personal information in an emergency may not allow for prior Institutional Review Board assessment or informed consent [ 23 ].

What is the authority to employ human subjects in research?

In this tradition of research ethics, the authority to employ human subjects in studies derives from the participant’s informed consent. The decision to participate in a study is taken as endorsement of the research goals and as free acceptance of the burdens and risks involved as being reasonable under the circumstances. In keeping with the twentieth century’s focus on autonomy, a good deal of the NIH Human Genome Project work on the ethical, legal, and social implications of research on the human genome has focused on individual liberty- and autonomy-related human rights concerns.

Why is confidentiality important in medicine?

The assurance of confidentiality is critical for the practice of medicine because it allows patients to freely share information. Although the concepts of “confidentiality” and “privacy” are frequently conflated and the distinctions elided, the difference may be critical in work on the human microbiome.

Is the microbiome a vector of disease?

As a vector of disease, my microbiome is my identity. The microbiome has an impact on the health of the human organism, but its effects are determined, in part, by the combined characteristics of the microbes that comprise it. A particular species of microbe might have positive effects in one human and negative effects in another.

Is the human microbiome being used?

The use of technology employing knowledge of the human microbiome is just getting started and is not yet widely applied. Nevertheless, it is important to consider the ethical issues early on so that we may try to avoid at least those pitfalls that can be identified now rather than waiting for disasters to occur and then trying to cobble together hasty responses. Fresh consideration of these issues by the biomedical research community, eschewing both exaggeration of the risks and ignoring real issues, will require both clear thinking and courage.

What are the technological aspects of microorganisms in functional foods?

Reports on technological aspects of microorganisms in functional foods concentrate almost exclusively on the growth or viability of related microorganisms (i .e. production of starter cultures) and on the fermentation performance (productivity) of microorganisms for specific food materials.

Why do microbial systems need to be maintained?

In addition to high initial productivity and viability microbial systems related to functional foods also need to maintain their viability throughout their passage through the adverse environment of the human intestinal tract.

How does microbiome research affect society?

Learning about the microbiome will change how medicine is practiced . It may also have implications for our social and legal systems and for how we conceive the ethics of medicine and biomedical research. Therefore, it is important to identify the ethical, legal, and social implications raised by human microbiome research in order to advise both the scientists engaged in the work and members of society who will participate in studies and live with the consequences .

What is the microbiome?

The human microbiome is the collection of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that live on and in the human organism’s skin, mucosa, and intestinal tract. Re-examining commonly accepted ethical standards from the perspective of this new area of research provides an opportunity to reassess our current thinking about research regulations as well as ...

Why is it important to collect data on outbreaks?

Data collection on disease outbreaks, births, and deaths is and will be critical in the design and implementation of effective disease prevention, outbreak control, and disaster response . Effective public health measures are based on data, but gathering personal information in an emergency may not allow for prior Institutional Review Board assessment or informed consent [ 23 ].

What is the authority to employ human subjects in research?

In this tradition of research ethics, the authority to employ human subjects in studies derives from the participant’s informed consent. The decision to participate in a study is taken as endorsement of the research goals and as free acceptance of the burdens and risks involved as being reasonable under the circumstances. In keeping with the twentieth century’s focus on autonomy, a good deal of the NIH Human Genome Project work on the ethical, legal, and social implications of research on the human genome has focused on individual liberty- and autonomy-related human rights concerns.

Why is confidentiality important in medicine?

The assurance of confidentiality is critical for the practice of medicine because it allows patients to freely share information. Although the concepts of “confidentiality” and “privacy” are frequently conflated and the distinctions elided, the difference may be critical in work on the human microbiome.

Is the microbiome a vector of disease?

As a vector of disease, my microbiome is my identity. The microbiome has an impact on the health of the human organism, but its effects are determined, in part, by the combined characteristics of the microbes that comprise it. A particular species of microbe might have positive effects in one human and negative effects in another.

Is the human microbiome being used?

The use of technology employing knowledge of the human microbiome is just getting started and is not yet widely applied. Nevertheless, it is important to consider the ethical issues early on so that we may try to avoid at least those pitfalls that can be identified now rather than waiting for disasters to occur and then trying to cobble together hasty responses. Fresh consideration of these issues by the biomedical research community, eschewing both exaggeration of the risks and ignoring real issues, will require both clear thinking and courage.