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.

Taking Safety Seriously: A Contrarian View of the Safety Practice

This article is an attempt to shoe some of the regular safety practices that Jim Loud, the author, has come to consider as being a hindrance to the progress of creating a safe environment. He also suggests that the safety practices, as currently being handled, is making this profession remain stagnant and it is his belief that it is what is directly responsible for preventing the safety profession from being what it should be. In essence, this article is an analysis of the various weaknesses which plague the safety profession and it serves the purpose of making suggestions of approaches which are more productive when taking protective measures.

Loud states that the safety profession has become so ruined and stagnant that most of its practitioners do not have a clue what their role is within it. In addition, according to Loud (55) it is a fact that most safety professionals, instead of working towards the fixing of those systems which are necessary for the development of good safety measures tend to attempt to fix the workers, and to do the latter, these safety professionals tend to use gimmicks as well as slogans. Among the most criticised aspects of the maintenance of safety by the safety professionals is their overreliance on quick fixes to the safety problems that arise and their failure to come up with lasting solutions for the said problems. This has come to create a situation where the safety infrastructure is barely able to maintain itself and in case of dire emergency, it is quite possible that they may end up failing (Loud 56).

A noteworthy point in this article is one which states that most safety professionals have come to confuse compliance with safety rules with safety and this may perhaps be the reason why there have been such appalling failures in the safety standards of many places. It is suggested that these professionals should help their employers realise that a proper approach to safety will ensure that their management priorities such as quality, cost control, and customer satisfaction, are fulfilled (Loud 57). The attempt to commercialise safety instead of actually implementing it is one of the factors about the current safety standards which should be avoided, ad instead, the real issues concerning safety should be addressed to ensure there are very limited losses of lives and property.

In conclusion, it can be said that there should be a quick response to the public recognition that there is a rapidly growing number of severe accidents which have come to be associated with the speedy development of industrialisation. The fact that there have developed many safety-first measures to prevent these accidents from becoming commonplace, these measures seem to have largely failed and that it is high time that some serious thought to find the necessary solutions. The strength of the safety measures that are to be taken by safety professionals have to be based on fact and have to be effective so that the safety problems which are currently being faced can be ended and a new era of complete public safety can be inaugurated.