journal #2 Zhaoyang

Biomedical engineering, the application of engineering and techniques to medicine, which is a totally new field, has raised many issues about ethics in many fields, such as cellular, genetic and tissue engineering, biomaterials, prostheses and implants, etc. In the following part, I will answer the first question. I think that biomedical engineers should attempt to enhance the human body, because this is what technologies do. We can find the same answer in history that many new technologies were introduced to enhance the human body, especially in the medical field which human beings rely on to have a longer and healthier life. For example, Smallpox Vaccine has saved countless lives in the world. Although in the article it said that implants had issues of human identity and dignity because of using artificial structures, at least doctors can ensure their patients to have a full body. One losing his leg in an accident can still walk with an artificial leg. Hundreds of years ago, it was impossible to imagine this, isn't is? Some may question that it is good to make us have a longer life with the help of biomedical engineering? What the world will be like with more and more infants coming to the world, without anyone dying? I am worried about this too. We all have a life cycle, a beginning and an ending. If there is no ending, the world is going to be a mess. In my opinion, I think that biomedical engineering should enhance the human body, for instance, implanting an artificial leg as mentioned above, but not to intervene into the cell processing which determines body growing naturally. As for neural engineering, I strongly suggest that scientists be careful and work with ethics. Just like the article mentioned, artificial neural devices may influence a person's identity. If this is acquired by criminals or terrorists, disasters are the only result.