Robotics and Biomedicine

Over the past century, there have been significant advancements in the field of medicine which have ensured that there is an improvement and extension in the lives of human beings all over the world. These advancements have ensured that life expectancy has not only improved, but there is also an opportunity for medical practitioners to undertake practical measures aimed at ensuring that diseases and medical conditions that were thought to be untreatable are not only treated, but also prevented before they develop. Medical advancements have come about mainly because of the considerable developments when it comes to biomedicine and robotics, which have a potential of leading to rapid prevention and treatment of diseases. However, despite the developments in these two fields, it is important to note that they also pose considerable ethical problems, and issues that might arise as a result of their practice. In this paper, there will be an attempt to analyze the importance of biomedicine and robotics while also considering the potential ethical implications that might come about as a result.

The advancements that have been made in biomedicine and robotics have led to a potential of saving lives more effectively. This is especially the case considering that a considerable number of people are often in need of specialized healing and new organs to ensure that their lives are saved. Through the development of such technologies as 3D printing, a potential for the development of new organs for people who need them has created a lot of excitement in the medical field (Ventola 704). This is because a large number of people are often on the waiting line for organs, with only a few organ donors available at a time. However, through the use of 3D printing of body parts, it is possible that individuals might end up being able to get organ replacements at a much faster rate than is currently the case. Therefore, the continued research into this technology could go a long way towards enhancing human life and saving those individuals that were previously considered a lost cause. Furthermore, through the use of 3D printing technology, it will be possible to ensure that there is the creation of means to reduce the medical costs of patients; allowing for a reduction of overall public healthcare costs.

Another important advancement in biomedicine is the development of cloning. Cloning, unlike 3D printing of organs, is one of the most controversial developments when it comes to biomedicine. This is because its potential practice raises a considerable number of ethical issues that are unlikely to be effectively addressed. Among the advantages of cloning technology is that it has the potential of ensuring that it brings about the development of organs and other parts of the body that are specially tailored for the individuals that need them. Therefore, the creation of clones through the use of the cells of an individual could help this individual have an unlimited source of organ replacements that could ensure an extension of his life (Macklin 76). However, one of the biggest concerns about this practice is that it leads to the creation and destruction of life. Clones, despite their artificial origins, raise an ethical concern because once they come to life; they will be considered human beings, with the same rights as any other person in society. Under such circumstances, it would be unethical to simply harvest body parts from them without considering their feelings in a bid to enhance the life of their parent. Clones, despite their origins, are different individuals from their parents, and this means that since they are human beings, they have to be treated as such. The use of clones for medical purposes rather than as a means of creating children for individuals who cannot give birth to their own is unethical and should not be considered when it comes to human beings.

Stem cell research, which is one of the most important developments in biomedicine, is another controversial ethical issue. This is because while it has been tried out in animals, its use in human beings is considered to be unethical. One of the reasons behind this stance is that it involves harvesting stem cells from fetuses and embryonic cells, the latter which are considered to be essentially human beings (Munsie and Hyun). Religious and human rights groups have raised this concern and have pointed out that undertaking the harvesting of stem cells from human beings could be an equivalent of opening a Pandora’s Box because it could unleash the uncontrolled harvesting of cells from fellow human beings in their early stage of development in the name of advancing the treatment of others. A consequence is that even though stem cell research has the potential of leading to advances in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease among other debilitating diseases and medical conditions; it cannot be used without strict regulations to the practice. These regulations have to cover such sensitive issues as the killing of human beings in their early stage of development, as well as the need to define exactly at what stage is an individual to be considered a human being.

In the medical field, robotics has a potential of playing an essential part in helping to improve the lives of individuals. The development of robotic parts to replace those parts of the body that have been lost or amputated is an important role that this technology can play (Stahl and Coeckelbergh). In recent years, there have been important developments in medical robotics, as seen where individuals are provided with robotic replacements for those limbs that they have lost either because of accidents or during amputations. The result has been that robotic has come to be seen as an important means of helping in advancing the lives of individuals that would otherwise have had the quality of their lives significantly reduced. Robotics is an essential aspect of making sure that there is the creation of powerful means to bring about the development of medical practices that not only improve the lives of individuals, but allow for the advancement of technologies aimed at helping individuals achieve their highest potential.

Among the biggest developments in robotics is nanomedicine, which has the potential of being used to fight diseases in the body more effectively. Nanomedicine is essential in the development of means through which to ensure that the body is kept under constant surveillance so that when diseases come up, they can be effectively defeated before they overwhelm the body (Kazemi, Majidinia, and Jamali 1). In addition, this technology also has the potential of being used to ensure that preventative measures are taken against diseases so that even potentially terminal ones can be prevented from developing (Resnik and Tinkle). However, one of the most significant ethical issues that arise in this situation is whether the injection of robotic technology in the human body could potentially open the way for malicious individuals to have access to private information of individuals that use the technology. It is therefore essential that as nanomedicine is adopted, strict regulations and guidelines are put in place in order to prevent its abuse for malignant purposes.

In conclusion, biomedicine and robotic have and will continue to have a positive impact on the health. Their potential for ensuring that there is the advancement of the interests of patients is essential in making sure that there is the development of strict regulations aimed at building up responsible use among medical practitioners. The observance of ethics should be the guiding force behind the developments made in biomedicine and robotics because it will ensure that there is the advancement of these aspects of medicine in a manner that is acceptable to most, if not all, members of society.

The Risk of a Cholera Outbreak during the Hajj

Millions of pilgrims attend the annual Hajj to the holy city of Mecca and because of the mass gatherings involved, there is often a high potential of public health challenges coming up. The large influx of people from across the globe and the considerable amount of time that they spend in close proximity to one another leads to a situation where there is a high risk of disease transmission (1). The transmission of such disease is not only a matter of concern for the pilgrims, but also for the local population. The introduction of such disease as cholera can end up putting the entire public health system of Saudi Arabia, as well as those of the home countries of the pilgrims at a compromise because they might bring back this disease with them on their return. It is therefore extremely pertinent to ensure that there is an effective understanding of the cholera epidemic and the manner through which it has affected the Hajj pilgrims in the past and its potential of return in future events.

Cholera epidemics in Mecca have been recorded since the nineteenth century with the first recorded case appearing in 1831 (2). However, these epidemics developed in the Hejaz region but since 1912, there have been no reported epidemics that have developed in Mecca and its environs. It is important to note that prior to the use of steam ships in 1866 to transport pilgrims, caravan transport was the most common means of transportation (3). Because of the latter, it was possible for epidemics to die out prior to the pilgrims’ arrival in Mecca because of the long duration of their journeys (4, 5). Steam navigation that was used to transport pilgrims from Egypt and India to the Hejaz not only led to considerable proximity, but also the increase in the likelihood of individuals carrying epidemics to Mecca and back to their home countries (6). It is important to note that despite epidemics arising from time to time in the subsequent years, the most recent cholera outbreak took place in the Hajj of 1989, which is an extremely important public health victory for the Saudi government. During the latter outbreak, about 102 pilgrims were affected, and the disease was contained (7).

Despite the precautions that have been taken by the Saudi government, it is important to note that the country is still at risk of a cholera epidemic. This is especially considering that there is currently a cholera epidemic in neighboring Yemen, which has affected more than 300,000 people (8). Thus, the potential of this epidemic spreading during the Hajj to Mecca is highly significant because it could end up spreading to the rest of the world as pilgrims return home. In recent years, the pilgrimage has drawn between 2 and 4 million individuals from all over the world. The outbreak of cholera in Yemen as well as in some African countries might end up presenting a serious risk to all pilgrims during the Hajj and after returning to their countries (9, 10). It is however noteworthy that because of the strict measures that it has taken; Saudi Arabia has not had a cholera outbreak in many years. This situation therefore means that the government has taken appropriate measures to counter the potential of the disease appearing in its borders, especially during the Hajj.

It is therefore important to consider the potential of cholera during the Hajj a serious threat. By putting such considerations at the forefront of public health policy, the government of Saudi Arabia can work hand in hand with its partners, especially the countries from which pilgrims originate, to ensure that threats are discovered early and eliminated prior to the Hajj (11). Furthermore, Saudi Arabia can make sure to reinforce its surveillance and rapid test system in order to detect cases early (12). The latter system has worked extremely well in recent years because outbreaks of cholera have not been recorded in decades. Also, the Saudi government should work hand in hand with the World Health Organization (WHO) in order to undertake a joint risk assessment of the situation so that they can develop recommendations to curb any potential outbreak in a manner that is clinically, operationally, and financially sustainable (13). Such measures, as well as the strict implementation of WHO guidelines to prevent cholera, and also undertaking campaigns to raise awareness about this disease during the Hajj could go a long way towards its prevention. Finally, Saudi Arabia should work towards enhancing its measures to protect both pilgrims and locals through regular screenings and testing from the potential of cholera outbreaks.

There is a threat of a #cholera epidemic in #Mariupol

Centralized water supply/sewerage is not working.the city is drowning in garbage and sewage.Almost every yard has mass burials and the summer heat has accelerated the decomposition of thousands of corpses under the rubble

— Надія (@Hope_grayblonde) June 7, 2022

Reference List

1.         Niu S, Xu M. Impact of Hajj on Global Health Security. Journal of religion and health. 2019;58(1):289-302.

2.         Omar W. The Mecca Pilgrimage: Its Epidemiological Significance and Control. Postgraduate medical journal. 1952;28(319):269.

3.         Miller M, editor The Business of the Hajj: Seaborne Commerce and the Movement of Peoples. Seascapes, Littoral Cultures, and Trans-Oceanic Exchanges” Washington, DC: Library of Congress; 2003.

4.         Brower BC. The Hajj by Land. The Hajj: Pilgrimage in Islam. 2015:87.

5.         Low MC. Empire and the Hajj: pilgrims, plagues, and pan-Islam under British surveillance, 1865–1908. International Journal of Middle East Studies. 2008;40(2):269-90.

6.         Boyle SA. Cholera, Colonialism, and Pilgrimage: Exploring Global/Local Exchange in the Central Egyptian Delta, 1848-1907. Journal of World History. 2015:581-604.

7.         Ahmed QA, Arabi YM, Memish ZA. Health risks at the Hajj. The Lancet. 2006;367(9515):1008-15.

8.         VOA. WHO Warns of Cholera Risk at Hajj, Praises Saudi Preparedness. VOA; 2017.

9.         Green A. Cholera outbreak in the horn of Africa. The Lancet. 2017;389(10085):2179.

10.       Almutairi MM, Alsalem WS, Hassanain M, Hotez PJ. Hajj, Umrah, and the neglected tropical diseases. PLoS neglected tropical diseases. 2018;12(8):e0006539.

11.       Al-Tawfiq JA, Memish ZA. The Hajj 2019 Vaccine Requirements and Possible New Challenges. Journal of epidemiology and global health. 2019.

12.       Alotaibi BM, Yezli S, Bin Saeed A-AA, Turkestani A, Alawam AH, Bieh KL. Strengthening health security at the Hajj mass gatherings: characteristics of the infectious diseases surveillance systems operational during the 2015 Hajj. Journal of travel medicine. 2017;24(3):1-6.

13.       Zumla A, McCloskey B, Endericks T, Azhar EI, Petersen E. The challenges of cholera at the 2017 Hajj pilgrimage. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2017;17(9):895-7.

Healthcare Coverage

      Health insurance includes a range of methods for guaranteeing healthcare services at no or reduced costs and these include government provided programs and individually purchased programs or products. The original health insurance concept was designed to spread the risk of incurring large claims across a broad population (some of which will actually have no claims at all in a given calendar year). In the United States, a complex system of contracts, specialized terms, selection of risk (selecting individuals who have fewer claims) and regulations at both the state and federal levels have sprouted from the original concept.

         Healthcare coverage is a very controversial topic especially in the United States. Many attempts have been made beginning in the twentieth century to provide a universal healthcare coverage to all those Americans who were not insured but most of them ended up in failure due to the influence of some groups, like doctors, who saw it as a way of curtailing their freedom to practice in the service of their patients. Many of the early efforts to provide discounted healthcare were pressured out of existence by physician groups but the rising cost of healthcare has made it a mandatory issue to be considered and discussed within the political circles. Healthcare coverage has become a very important matter within the United States because of the increasing costs which prevents many of those Americans in great need of the said medical care from getting it. This is mostly due to the fact that they can barely afford to pay the premiums demanded by insurance companies, or if they are able to, they can only afford insurance with little coverage. Attempts have been made by the federal government to ensure that healthcare coverage is available for all Americans by requiring all employers to provide health insurance for their workers while the government covers those who are not employed.

         This proposition has however been opposed by some sectors of the economy, most notably, small businesses. These small businesses balk at the cost of providing insurance for more employees because, they argue, the government does not provide enough resources to enable them to bear these costs. The proposition that businesses expand coverage for their employees would force these businesses to cut wages, lay off workers, and perhaps even cease operations because of the high cost of insurance. The government could choose to bear the cost of all health care, as is done in Canada, because it can control the cost of health care to a greater degree than it does in the current system. This proposition has been opposed by many organizations which argue that this move would make access to health care more unequal because the rich and influential in society would just be able to skip the line and get preferential treatment as opposed to those who were there first. Moreover, this system would discourage further research into the development of new pharmaceuticals and medical devices which are an essential part of the improvement of medical services.

        In conclusion, I propose that the best way to deal with this issue is to first implement the universal healthcare coverage and then deal with the problems that arise from it as they come because there is no perfect system in the world.

The future of electronic medical records

           The electronic medical records are a software based solution that provides for the digital computerization, recording, and maintenance of patient and medical practice information and it deals the need to set up excellence in patient care and practicality in medical practice. It is one of the main tools currently being used to fix the ailing health care system through patient monitoring which will enable doctors to shift from only curing ailments to preventing them instead. One of the main goals for using this system is to increase efficiency within the healthcare system to the point of significantly reducing health care costs while saving millions of lives. Over the past five years, health-care providers, insurers, drug companies and research institutions have initiated a massive transformation from a paper-based health-care system to one that increasingly relies on electronic records to manage patient information with full government support.

               The increasing number of those who are expected to be regular users of the American health care system due to the passage of the health care reform bill has been touted as one of the reasons why digitizing the medical data of patients is very important in managing the already burdened health care system. Putting people’s health information in databases will not only reduce redundancies but is already shifting the way people receive and seek health care. With better contact to an individualized health record, whether it is through an official electronic record by a doctor, a private record created by an individual, or a fast instant messaging contact with a doctor, the customary roles of doctors and patients are experiencing swift changes. It is expected that in the future, patients will arrive for appointments with their doctors having gone through their medical records and the recommended articles about their health concerns.

            It is believed that even more people will be able to skip the hospital visit altogether due to their busy schedules and will instead prefer to stay in touch with their doctors through text messaging and emails in order to receive answers for their health concerns. Electronic medical records are the future because in emergencies, such as attending to a patient with a heart attack, finding and reading the paper medical records of a patient costs a lot of time, and this time might be crucial in the saving of the life of this patient. If electronic data is available, then it would be easier to treat whatever medical condition a patient has because the doctors have almost instant access to their medical records, and in fact, the chances of such a patient living would be significantly higher.

        Electronic medical records are here to stay because they reduce the chances of physicians making errors in their diagnosis of a patient’s illness due to the fact that they will have the patient’s entire medical history before they start attending on him or her. Although electronic medical records have been said to have saved the lives of many and that there are even higher possibilities of their doing so in future, it still has the problem of cost. Installing an electronic medical records system in a hospital or clinic, for example, can be very expensive and many doctors opt not to do it because of the cost. Unless cheaper ways are found to ensure that electronic data systems are more available to doctors at cheaper prices, then the future of electronic medical records will be threatened, not only increasing the risk to the lives of the patients but will also continue to burden the already strained medical health care system as it is today, making medical services even slower.

          However, the health reform law and the stimulus package put in place recently by the American government have encouraged the shifting of the health care system from paper records to electronic ones. Billions of dollars have been put into incentive programs to reward doctors who meet the standards set for establishing electronic records. The problem with having electronic medical records currently is that although many medical practitioners keep electronic records, they have no centralized system through which the patient’s information can be shared and this leads to the same problem as that experienced by the use of the paper system, that is, the loss of time. It is estimated that fewer than a quarter of all medical practitioners in the United States have the necessary technology to share their patients’ medical information with other medical practitioners and it is believed that the efficient sharing of this information will not be in place for another five years.

          The main beneficiaries of the electronic medical records will be the patients themselves because sometimes, medical and diagnostic errors occur because complete patient information is not available at the time of patient care and doctors are forced to provide care based on a patient’s recollection or in worst cases not information at all. An integrated electronic medical records system could help resolve this problem because doctors will have all the information they need about a patient’s medical history hence reducing the chances of errors occurring.

          Furthermore, the use of electronic medical records protects the patient’s privacy from eavesdropping because these records are password protected hence limiting their access to only the patient and their doctor. It has been found that adequate technology is available to protect the patient’s privacy and this can be found cheaply. However, the making of medical records electronic can have some unforeseen effects in the future because even though it is safer in matters of privacy, any breach in the security of the electronic system can completely compromise the privacy of a patient and their information might be available for all to see especially online. With very few controls over the internet, the patient’s medical history and personal information can no longer be kept private.

                In conclusion, it can be said that the future of electronic medical records is assured because not only is it faster to use but it is also more efficient than the paper medical records. It can be used to reduce the time which a patient spends at a clinic or hospital because all their information will be available for the doctor and there would be no need for this patient to be asked numerous questions about their medical history that they may not be able to answer accurately. This new system will also enable doctors to see more patients in a day than they do currently and it may also allow them to make a diagnosis of their patients remotely because with a medical history at hand, all he will have to do is make a prescription and only if the case is serious will he require to see the patient.

Nurse Staffing and the Quality of Patient Care

For many years, the safe staffing of nurses has been linked to the positive outcomes of patients. It has been noticed that nurse staffing has an effect on the length in which patients stay in hospital as well as the efficiency of their treatment. Adequate nurse staffing in hospitals has the outcome of decreasing the duration of patients’ hospital stay. It has also been found that there is a decrease in the number of medical errors made concerning patients. Furthermore, adequate staffing also has an impact on nurses because they become more motivated in their work, which increases their efficiency. This efficiency helps the patient as it improves the care which they are given, and this leads to the patient’s swift recovery. 

Adequate nurse staffing in hospitals reduces the patients’ mortality rates due to the fact that they have the full attention of the nurses throughout their convalescence. It is, therefore, important for hospitals to ensure that they have adequate nurse staffing so that only the best possible care can be provided for patients. Moreover, with a balanced nurse to patient ratio, the patients’ hospital stay will be reduced, meaning that more attention will be given to the remaining patients.

In conclusion, it can be said that nurse staffing does indeed have an impact on the quality of care that patients receive. If the ratio between nurses and patients is well balanced, then the patients will have the best care and their recovery will be quite swift. However, if there are fewer nurses in relation to the patients they serve, then the latter will have very poor service. If fact, their recovery rate, will be very low while their mortality rate will go up significantly. Nurse staffing should always be given priority when dealing with matters concerning healthcare to ensure that services of good quality are provided for patients.