Introduction
Nanotechnology refers to the dimension of technology that deals with tolerances and dimensions of less than 100 nanometers (one billionth of a meter) especially in the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules. Nanobots are part of nanotechnology dealing with very tiny robots whose sizes are in the range of nanometer (10-9M). Although these tiny robots do not exist as yet, research is ongoing in producing these micro machines for among others functions molecular manufacturing and in the medical field.
Ethical dilemma
The major ethical dilemmas with nanobots involve their potential misuse by malicious entities to invade into privacies, potential for use in computer-based crimes and artificial intelligence. The major issues bringing about the dilemma involve bridging the gap between the general public to whom the nanobots will be used say in medicine and the highly technological working of the nanobots. The size of the nanobots means that they could also pose an ethical dilemma and potentially cause wars since they shall have immense power to influence systems in say manufacturing and medicine. The potential for the use of nanobots in spying is also high and raises issues of security dilemmas because countries may deviate the use of such technologies to hence their security to the dissatisfaction of their neighbors and others in the international community.
Top ethical challenges of the dilemma
The tiny nature of the nanobots allows them extremely clashing ideals. They can fit into body systems and get involved in biotechnology, but the very size also means that they are prone to getting out of human control if not well checked and moderated. There are numerous people who tout nanobots as holding great potential in the field of medicine, and this would be a welcome move for all the people on earth. In this case, the ideal issue is that nanobots could be introduced into the bloodstream to diagnose and treat complex health conditions. However, this ideal clashes with the fears that the nanotechnology could go out of hand in what is known as Grey Goo- a hypothetical phenomenon describing end-of-the-world issue involving nanotechnology whereby nanorobots will become self-replicating and consume the environmental matter.
Engineering code of ethics
The code of ethics by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) “, In the fulfillment of their professional duties, Engineers shall: Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public”. This ethical dilemma raises three major concerns namely: health concerns, legal/policy issues, and professional issues.
How each of three items from code applies to my ethical dilemma
On the health concerns, there is a danger that the nanobots can harm the human beings whose diseases and lives they were intended to address. It remains unclear how the nanobots shall bypass the barrier between the brain and the blood and move around many cells making repairs such as Chromosome Replacement Therapies without causing harm to the healthy cells, tissues and organs. A person into whom the nanobots are introduced may worry about their safety especially in the future when they are not sure of how the nanobots will be successfully removed from the body. The person may feel unsafe to have “machines” however small running in their bodies. The person may also feel that they are exposed to rays and waves whose effects they may not tell.
Regarding the professional concerns, the public needs assurance that their welfare is not at stake by being assured that scientists and engineers can put controls to ensure that nanotechnologies do not go out of hand and become self-replicating. Research into nanobots and nanotechnology is US’s Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) meaning that the research is largely controlled by the government. Moreover, nanobots are set to apply in a different field and all the worrying ethical issue is how the researchers will manage to synchronize the interests from the private sectors and from the many stakeholders and potential users of nanobot technologies.
The legal/policy issues that concern nanobots include the concern on who should create and enforce policies that regard the research and development of the nanobots. Also, there is the concern about the international laws that need to be formulated for the safe and sustainable production and use of nanobots taking care not to put lives at risk. Moreover, the laws need to have specific bodies assigned to them for the sake of enforcement.
The engineers ought to address the nano-properties and the materials which make up the nanobots because safety is the main issue behind any engineering innovation. This is so because the nanobots are expected to be an integral part of nanomedicine. However, concerns about safety, health and public welfare ought not to hinder research into this exciting field of technology but should provoke proponents to come up with ingenious solutions.
Approaches to a minimalist, due care, and good works engineer to the ethical concerns
Nanomedicine and nanobots promise to increase the human lifespan, and this raises the ethical question of what becomes human and "non-human."
A minimalist engineer is only concerned with meeting requirements and standards of the engineering profession and the necessary codes of ethics. A minimalist may be worried that the nanobots need production rules to ensure that only specific companies make such products to avoid counterfeits that pose dangers to the safety, health and welfare of the general public. Also, a minimalist may need assurance that there will be adequate laws, policies and bodies to enforce the legal and policy issues. The minimalist may also need to hear that there are wider consultations with the private sector to ensure that nanotechnology is simply not a government- engineered project that shall be forced upon people by government for their own interests. However, the minimalist engineer may not take any action toward the enhancement of the concern, and they will wait until the nanobots have come into effect. In case, the nanobots cause some accident of some sort that’s when the minimalist engineer will come into action in a vigorous manner.
A due works or reasonable-care engineer is one who takes reasonable precautions in the practice of his profession. In this case, he speaks and acts for the normal outside person by urging for the prevention of potential harm. He needs to get the assurance that stakeholders shall go beyond the basics of addressing the ethical issues and put in place concrete and sustainable measures in a given technology. Although not very stringent, such an engineer may need the proof of reports on trial on the potential impacts of nanobots on the health of the potential users.
A good works model is one in which engineers go beyond the basic of the requirements of the law and standards, and they do what they are supposed to do to improve the safety and wellbeing of the society through specific engineering initiatives. In this case, a good works engineer will try and get into the engineering details of nanobots. He will try and understand the technology, and he will contribute actively say through publications to guide the public on issues about nanobots. He will also write to raise concerns about the safety, health and general wellbeing of the nanobots to the teams involved in research and development. Although he may not be directly involved in the development of the nanobots, he will do his best to get updates on the technology and provide his input. He might as well get an opportunity from the developers to offer consultancy if he shows enough mastery of nanotechnology thereby getting a direct opportunity to address the ethical concerns about these wonder robots.
Ways of resolving the dilemma
The best ways of solving the dilemma is to collect all the possible concerns and then address them accordingly. Since current research is led by US government agencies, they should open up opportunities for experts from the private sector to partake in the research and development. A widened body will be in a position to collect non-biased views from different stakeholders and address them accordingly. The Mom Test would be suitable to evaluate the suitability of this solution. It would ask simplistic questions such as how the nanobot technology is likely to impact on an ordinary person.
In addressing the legal issues, the government should pass the necessary laws to regulate nanotechnology say like a comprehensive act of parliament. Ethical concerns need the following solutions. First researchers need to assure people that the nanobots will be made specialized and not made for the general purpose. Secondly, the machines should never be self-replicating and the safety of the materials used to make the nanobots should be assured. It would also be critical for researchers to assure the public that they will tag the machines to make them easier to track and control. The Mom Test would also be suitable for testing the suitability of testing for ethics. The test would call for researchers to offer simple and direct answers on the potential of the nanobots to cause harm.
The best action in addressing the ethical dilemma of nanobots is to have current research and development expanded to address the concerns of many stakeholders. The formation of a non-governmental regulatory and advisory board that take in the view of the public and airs them to the researchers as the development goes on would be a welcome move. It would ensure that there is open communication between the developers and the potential users of nanobots thereby avoiding controversies and violations of ethical codes.
References
Chen, A. (2002, March 3). The Ethics of Nanotechnology. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/more/technology-ethics/resources/the-ethics-of-nanotechnology/
Jain, A. (n.d.). The Ethics Involved in Technology and an Extended Lifespan. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.pitt.edu/~anj45/Engineering%20Analysis%20Paper%203.pdf
Wolfson, J. R. (2003). Social and Ethical Issues in Nanotechnology: Lessons from Biotechnology and Other High Technologies. 22 Biotechnology Law Report 376. Number 4 (.
