Full Description
This book is about the interaction between biomedical engineering and ethics during emergencies, such as low-resource settings and the COVID-19 pandemic. It addresses the issues between the universalism of human rights, ethical principles, and regulatory standards of biomedical devices in the context of emergencies.
Ethics and Biomedical Engineering: Facing Global Health Emergencies connects biomedical engineering and ethics with particular regard to emergency context such as in low-income countries and the COVID-19 pandemic. It examines how the COVID-19 crisis exposed gaps in access to healthcare, ignited debates about resource allocation, and highlighted the importance of patient privacy. The book presents case studies conducted in Africa and the role of the biomedical engineer (and more generally the scientist) during a pandemic or other health emergency. The book also addresses the way in which the pandemic has been addressed in low-income contexts. Finally, it also explains the need for an interdisciplinary approach between scientists, ethicists, and policymakers to improve outcomes in the future.
The book is intended for undergraduate and graduate students in bioengineering. It would also be useful for policy makers and medical professionals that could be faced with ethical dilemmas in times of crisis.
Contents
About the Authors
Introduction
Statement
1. Biomedical Engineering and Ethics Face COVID- 19 Pandemic
Biomedical Engineering and Ethics: Reflections on Medical Devices and Personal Protective Equipment During the First Wave of COVID-19
The Role of Ethics in Science: A Systematic Literature Review from the First Wave of COVID- 19
2. Case Studies in Low- Resource Settings
COVID- 19 Preparedness and Social Dynamics in a Sub- Saharan Africa Country, Benin
Social Engagement in the Fight Against COVID- 19 in the Urban and Peri- Urban areas of Cotonou (Benin, Sub- Saharan Africa): Acceptability of the Vaccination and Tracking Program
A Framework for Designing Medical Devices Resilient to Low- Resource Settings
A Framework for Assessing Healthcare Facilities in Low- Resource Settings: Field Studies in Benin and Uganda
3. Ethics and Regulation
Personal Protective Equipment and COVID- 19: The Inadequacy of Regulatory Frameworks in Time of Crisis and in Low-Resource Settings
On the Universality of Medical Device Regulations: The Case of Benin
4. Building a Stronger Europe: The EAMBES' Role in Healthcare Resilience and Sustainability
5. Conclusions
