Abstract
The following hypothetical case study was developed for bioengineering students and is concerned with choosing between two devices used for development of a pediatric tissue engineered heart valve (TEHV). This case is intended to elicit assessment of the devices, possible future outcomes, and ramifications of the decision making. It is framed in light of two predominant ethical theories: utilitarianism and rights of persons. After the case was presented to bioengineering graduate students, they voted on which device should be released. The results revealed that these bioengineering students preferred the more reliable (and substantially more expensive) design, though this choice precludes the majority of the world from having access to this technology. This case is intended to examine and explore where the balance lies between design, cost, and adequate distribution of biomedical devices.
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Acknowledgements
The author would like to acknowledge John E. Mayer, Jr. and Michael S. Sacks for their collaboration on the TEHV [6 – 9]. Their research is supported by the National Institutes of Health: HL-68816. Additionally, thanks to Rosa Lynn Pinkus for the encouragement to begin this work, her efforts to see this to publication, and her many insightful comments and suggestions. The author was supported as a Pre-doctoral Fellow of the American Heart Association (0515416U) during completion of this work.
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Merryman, W.D. Development of a Tissue Engineered Heart Valve for Pediatrics: A Case Study in Bioengineering Ethics. Sci Eng Ethics 14, 93–101 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-008-9053-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-008-9053-x