Biobank donation in search of public benefits and the potential impact of intellectual property rights over access to health-technologies developed: A focus on the bioethical implications.

The availability of biomaterials is a key component of health research and the development of new health-technologies (including, diagnostics, medicines, and vaccines). People are often encouraged by biobanks to donate samples altruistically to such biobanks. While empirical evidence suggests many donors are motivated by the desire to contribute towards developing new health-technologies for society. However, a tension can arise as health-technologies whose development is contributed to by donors' biomaterials will often be protected by intellectual property rights (IPRs), including patents. Patents give rightsholders control over how patented technologies are used and can be used in a way that impedes public access to technologies developed. Yet, there are no binding European legal obligations mandating disclosure to donors of how IPRs can operate over downstream health-technologies and how they could impact access to health-technologies developed, nor are there legally binding obligations to ensure public accessibility of technologies developed. Focusing on the bioethical implications posed, this article argues that the current situation can impact donors' autonomy and dignity interests. A more holistic approach is needed for biobank donation, which embeds a consideration of donors' expectations/interests from the point of donation through to how such samples are used and how health-technologies developed are accessed. We put forward avenues that seek to address such issues.

El cuidado de enfermería y la ética derivados del avance tecnológico en salud / Nursing care and ethical issues surgen from the technological health advance / Cuidados de enfermagem e a ética decorrentes do avanço tecnológico em saúde

Resumen: 15. Introducción: Los profesionales de enfermería están expuestos a enfrentar conflictos de carácter ético debido a las responsabilidades propias asociadas al cuidado de las personas y al hecho de trabajar en un ámbito de salud cada vez más tecnificado y complejo. Objetivo: Analizar los aspectos éticos que influyen en el cuidado de enfermería, ocasionados por el avance de la tecnología en los servicios de salud. Desarrollo: Los profesionales de enfermería son los responsables de la utilización de la tecnología, por lo que se exige una preparación profesional en el uso y aplicación de técnicas terapéuticas o de diagnóstico; se debe emplear criterios éticos y valores propios de la disciplina, con una visión holística y humanista del cuidado de las personas. Un abordaje asistencial basado en la ética implica que el enfermero considera al ser humano con respeto y absoluta dignidad. Conclusiones: Enfermería debe evidenciar el cuidado humanizado en todas las acciones que ejecuta, aplicando el saber ético, actitudes y valores hacia la persona a cuidar.

Abstract: 20. Background: Nurses are exposed to face ethical conflicts because the responsibilities associated with caring for people and the fact of working in a health field ever more tech and complex. Objective: Analyze the ethical issues that affect nursing care, caused by the advance of technology in health services. Development: Nurses are responsible for the use of technology, so it requires professional training in the use and application of therapeutic or diagnostic techniques, should be used ethical criteria and values ​​of discipline with a view holistic and humanistic care of people. An approach healthcare based on ethics implies that the nurse considers the human being with absolute respect and dignity. Conclusions: Nursing must demonstrate humanized care in all actions executed by applying the ethical knowledge, attitudes and values ​​towards caring person.

Resumo: 25. Introdução: Os profissionais de enfermagem estão expostos a enfrentar conflitos de caráter éticos devido as responsabilidades próprias relacionadas ao cuidado das pessoas e ao trabalho em um campo cada vez mais modernizado e complexo de saúde. Objetivo: Analisar os aspectos éticos que influenciam os cuidados de enfermagem, ocasionados pelo avanço da tecnologia na área de saúde. Desenvolvimento: Os profissionais de enfermagem são responsáveis pelo o uso da tecnologia, isso requer uma preparação profissional no uso e na aplicação de técnicas terapêuticas ou de diagnóstico; deve ser empregado critérios éticos e valores próprios disciplina, com uma visão holística e humanística do cuidado das pessoas. Uma abordagem assistencial baseada na ética implica que o enfermeiro concebe os seres humanos com respeito e absoluta dignidade. Conclusões: A Enfermagem deve evidenciar o cuidado humanizado em todas as ações que executa, aplicando conhecimentos éticos, atitudes e valores para a pessoa a ser cuidada.

Digital health: meeting the ethical and policy challenges.

Digital health encompasses a wide range of novel digital technologies related to health and medicine. Such technologies rely on recent advances in the collection and analysis of ever increasing amounts of data from both patients and healthy citizens. Along with new opportunities, however, come new ethical and policy challenges. These range from the need to adapt current evidence-based standards, to issues of privacy, oversight, accountability and public trust as well as national and international data governance and management. This review illustrates key issues and challenges facing the rapidly unfolding digital health paradigm and reflects on the impact of big data in medical research and clinical practice both internationally and in Switzerland. It concludes by emphasising five conditions that will be crucial to fulfil in order to foster innovation and fair benefit sharing in digital health.

An ethical evaluation index system for clinical approval of medical technology in China: A structural equation model study.

OBJECTIVE: To construct a quantitative ethical evaluation index system for the clinical approval of medical technology in China. METHODS: Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and first-order confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) based on a structure equation model (SEM), higher-order CFA and normalisation were used to establish an ethical evaluation index system for the clinical approval of medical technology. Data were processed in SPSS 13.0 and Lisre l5.3. RESULTS: There were 52 third class indices, 15 second class indices, and 3 first class indices in this ethical evaluation index system. The weight of each index was calculated by normalisation. CONCLUSION: This study developed a three-level ethical evaluation index system, comprising 70 indices, for the clinical approval of medical technology.

[Surgery and the zeitgeist: what happened to ethics and moral?]. / Chirurgie und Zeitgeist: Wo bleiben Ethik und Moral?

Ethical and moral topics have always been an integral part of surgery. The rapid progress of highly advanced medicine has induced public discussions about medico-ethical problems as well as respective legislation. Interdisciplinary ethical committees, appointed by political as well as professional associations, have published guidelines concerning current ethical topics. However, what about the doctor's attitude and the influence of the ever changing "Zeitgeist"? With the surplus of unproven health information on the web, modern information technologies have changed the doctor-patient relationship. Active leadership of the doctor is still required. For the benefit of the patient the physician should confront increasing economic pressures and the requirements of higher performance levels with competence. Indications have to be based on the results of valid quality controls. Special moral standards should be applied for working within the surgical community and for the pursuit of a career in academic surgery. By strengthening mutual respect and the community spirit surgery will remain attractive for aspiring young doctors.

El diagnóstico médico y el uso de la tecnología en la atención primaria / Medical diagnosis and use of technology in the primary health care

Las bases del diagnóstico médico son: establecer una buena relación con el paciente, realizar una anamnesis completa y examen físico minucioso, agrupar y relacionar los síntomas y signos encontrados, plantear la hipótesis diagnóstica que pueda explicar mejor el caso del paciente, contrastar la hipótesis diagnóstica por medio de exámenes complementarios o la evolución del paciente y por último, plantear el diagnóstico de certeza. ..

El diagnóstico médico y el uso de la tecnología en la atención primaria / Medical diagnosis and use of technology in the primary health care

Las bases del diagnóstico médico son: establecer una buena relación con el paciente, realizar una anamnesis completa y examen físico minucioso, agrupar y relacionar los síntomas y signos encontrados, plantear la hipótesis diagnóstica que pueda explicar mejor el caso del paciente, contrastar la hipótesis diagnóstica por medio de exámenes complementarios o la evolución del paciente y por último, plantear el diagnóstico de certeza. ..