Papers by Linda MacDonald Glenn
Ethics provides a set of standards for behavior that helps us decide how we ought to act in a ran... more Ethics provides a set of standards for behavior that helps us decide how we ought to act in a range of situations. In a sense, we can say that ethics is all about making choices, and about providing reasons why we should make these choices.
American Journal of Bioethics, Oct 24, 2019
This White Paper follows the first one produced in 2017 by the IEEE Symbiotic Autonomous Systems ... more This White Paper follows the first one produced in 2017 by the IEEE Symbiotic Autonomous Systems Initiative (SAS)1 , extending it to address updated technologies and cover additional topics due to the evolution of science and technology. Additional white papers will follow because this is an area in continuous development. The first examples of symbioses are already available in a number of areas, and even now, these are impacting our economic system and way of life. The IEEE SAS Initiative takes a 360° view based on technology and standardization—the foundation of IEEE—and invites all interested constituencies to contribute complementary point of views, including economic, regulatory, and sociocultural perspectives. The transformation fostered by technology evolution in all paths of life requires planning and education by current and future players. Another goal of the initiative is to consider the future of education, given that these symbioses transform its meaning, making it both shared and distributed. In this respect, the aims of this White Paper are to further develop the ideas presented in the first white paper: (1) to highlight impacts that are clearly identifiable today, and (2) to indicate emerging issues, thus providing a starting point to those involved in making public policy to understand the technical fundamentals, their evolution and their potential implications. Note that this White Paper is intended to be self-contained, without requiring the reader to read the previous white paper
Methods in molecular biology, Oct 8, 2011
Advances in regenerative nanomedicine raise a host of ethical, legal, and social questions that h... more Advances in regenerative nanomedicine raise a host of ethical, legal, and social questions that healthcare providers and scientists will need to consider. These questions and concerns include definitions, appropriate applications, dual use, potential risks, regulations, and access. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the questions and concerns and recommend proactive consideration and solutions.
PubMed, Oct 1, 2003
Thank you for inviting me to speak today. It is quite an honor to be among a distinguished group ... more Thank you for inviting me to speak today. It is quite an honor to be among a distinguished group of colleagues who recognize the importance of balancing progress for humanity with advances in technology. Although I did not have the honor of meeting Walter C. Randall, from what I’ve learned of the man, he was a thoughtful, considerate man, who promoted integrity in the sciences and advocated education and interaction with the public sector. When I’ve introduced myself to those attending the conference and some of the exhibitors, I’ve received a curious reaction to my affiliation with the American Medical Association’s Institute for Ethics. My comments here today are not necessarily a reflection of AMA policy and I’m not a member of the “ethics police.” My intent is to inform, help identify the issues, raise questions and advocate for a cautious, thoughtful approach. The last few years have seen scientific advancements that we thought to be possible only in the realm of science fiction. From nuclear transfer to exogenous pregnancies, implantable brain chips to transgenic engineering, cyborg to chimera, we are forging the next step in our own evolution. Future developments will likely challenge our concepts of what it means to be “human.” Currently, human beings cannot be patented, but the definition “human being” has yet to be defined by the courts or the legislature. Arguments as to what constitutes “personhood” are being closely scrutinized and debated in the fields of religion, ethics, psychology, and law. (For the purposes of this talk, I will sometimes use humans and persons interchangeably, because, as I discuss later, the law often defines “persons” without any reference to or distinction from “human.”) Possible implications range from affecting the abortion debate to end-of-life decision making to animal rights. The next several decades will test the flexibility of the law in response to evolving advancements. Because our technical prowess often exceeds our ethical analysis, I offer some ideas how our new creations may fit within the context of historical ethical and legal analysis.
American Journal of Bioethics, Dec 17, 2007
Lawrence and Curlin (2007) outline the two traditional paths that help define 'consc... more Lawrence and Curlin (2007) outline the two traditional paths that help define 'conscience': the fundamentalist approach and the secular approach. These paths fall into the classic dualistic notion that the world is made up of divisions between the self and the other, mind and body, consciousness and form, good and bad, here and there, past and future (Wilber 2001 12. Wilber, K. 2001. A Brief History of Everything, New York, NY: Shambhala.
Nanoethics, Dec 1, 2008
How Small is Nano-sized and Why Does Size Matter? The term 'nano' has become part of everyday lan... more How Small is Nano-sized and Why Does Size Matter? The term 'nano' has become part of everyday language, although it is often somewhat misused. From the IPod Nano (an illustration that the marketing industry is not above exploiting the term 'nano' for commercial gain) to the phrase 'I'll be there in a nano,' the term has become a popular expression of
American Journal of Bioethics, Sep 1, 2005
American Journal of Bioethics, Jun 30, 2010
Both Jotterand's (2010) and Bostrom's (2005; 2007) use of the term “dig... more Both Jotterand's (2010) and Bostrom's (2005; 2007) use of the term “dignity” with regard to human versus posthuman miss the mark; they create a dichotomized,“us versus them” scenario, rather than recognizing the interconnectedness of all sentient beings—interconnectedness, as in nonseparability and entanglement and in feminist theory (Barad 2007 2. Barad, K. 2007. Meeting the universe halfway: Quantum physics and the entanglement of matter and meaning, Durham, NC: Duke University Press.
American Journal of Bioethics, Mar 1, 2005
In this post-9/11 era of color-coded elevated security advisories and terrorist alerts, it is eas... more In this post-9/11 era of color-coded elevated security advisories and terrorist alerts, it is easy to see why the federal security agencies would embrace emerging neurotechnologies for lie detection as a quick and easy way to weed out those individuals who might pose a threat to our national security. However, as Wolpe et al.(2005) 9. Wolpe, PR, Foster, KR and Langleben, DD 2005. Emerging neurotechnologies for lie-detection: Promises and perils. The American Journal of Bioethic, 5 (2): 39–49.
Journal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making, Sep 1, 2007
Augmented cognition, like so many new technologies, has its promises and its perils. Whereas rece... more Augmented cognition, like so many new technologies, has its promises and its perils. Whereas recent literature in ethics focuses on the military origins and applications of augmented cognition and harnessing the power of a symbiotic brain-nervous system-computer system for warfare, this article analyzes this technology for applications in health care settings and research. Additionally, a delineation of how law and policy makers might respond to issues in shared culpability and responsibility is proposed.
Ecological Economics, Mar 1, 2007
Enhancing Quality of Life (QOL) has long been an explicit or implicit goal for individuals, commu... more Enhancing Quality of Life (QOL) has long been an explicit or implicit goal for individuals, communities, nations, and the world. But defining QOL and measuring progress toward meeting this goal have been elusive. Diverse "objective" and "subjective" indicators across a range of disciplines and scales, and recent work on subjective well-being (SWB) surveys and the psychology of happiness have spurred interest. Drawing from multiple disciplines, we present an integrative definition of QOL that combines measures of human needs with subjective well-being or happiness. QOL is proposed as a multi-scale, multi-dimensional concept that contains interacting objective and subjective elements. We relate QOL to the opportunities that are provided to meet human needs in the forms of built, human, social and natural capital (in addition to time) and the policy options that are available to enhance these opportunities. Issues related to defining, measuring, and scaling these concepts are
Nature Biotechnology, Apr 1, 2008
Are you a hedgehog or a fox? Isaiah Berlin's descriptive dichotomy is based on the ancient Greek ... more Are you a hedgehog or a fox? Isaiah Berlin's descriptive dichotomy is based on the ancient Greek poet Archilochus' fragment of verse, "The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing" 1. Freeman J. Dyson recognizes that scientists come in these two different flavors and explains the difference as he sees it: "Foxes are broad, hedgehogs are deep. Foxes are interested in everything and move easily from one problem to another. Hedgehogs are interested in only a few problems that they consider fundamental, and stick with the same problems for years or decades." He readily admits that science needs both: Einstein was a hedgehog; Fermi was a fox.
Although I consider myself to be a bioethicist, healthcare ethics educator, counselor at law and ... more Although I consider myself to be a bioethicist, healthcare ethics educator, counselor at law and consultant, prior to returning to an academic setting, I practiced as a trial attorney with an emphasis in patient advocacy, bioethical, and biotechnology issues. I currently hold a faculty appointment at the Alden March Bioethics Institute, Albany Medical Center; I am also a Fellow at the Institute for Emerging Technologies and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. My other honors include an appointment as a Senior Fellow at the American Medical Association's Institute for Ethics, and being named a Women's Bioethics Scholar. My research encompasses the legal, ethical, and social impact of emerging healthcare technologies, and evolving notions of legal personhood. I would like to thank my co-counsel, Mark Senter of Dallas, Texas for his amazing lawyering skills, negotiation tactics and confidence; and I would like thank our client, Mr. Collins, who so graciously agreed to be the subject of discussion in this article.
Bioethics, Feb 20, 2021
The interest in this topic is motivated by the authors' respective professional experiences worki... more The interest in this topic is motivated by the authors' respective professional experiences working with emotionally challenged adolescents and young adults. The first author's extensive clinical experience counseling adolescents in hospitals and school settings has highlighted the distinctions in behavioral profiles and treatment implications between those demonstrating remorse following episodes of impulsive, explosive behaviors, and those devoid of any culpability, boasting satisfaction at having perpetrated calculated acts of harm. The second author's experiences as a trial attorney and guardian ad litem for juveniles in the justice system prompted her to do her own research and connect with the first author. The mental health and legal systems end up dealing with these individuals in a punitive manner, after harms have already been committed. But the authors assert that, in light of recognizable
Jona's Healthcare Law, Ethics, and Regulation, Apr 1, 2011
AMA journal of ethics, Mar 1, 2004
Clinical Cases HMO-Dictated Patient Discharge The financial constraints of HMOs often conflict wi... more Clinical Cases HMO-Dictated Patient Discharge The financial constraints of HMOs often conflict with physicians' medical decisions regarding patient care.
American Journal of Bioethics, Sep 1, 2005
makes compelling arguments that it is time for bioethicists to assert the integrity of their fiel... more makes compelling arguments that it is time for bioethicists to assert the integrity of their field by developing a code of professional ethics. His article raises some questions that the profession needs to answer more fully. What can we learn from previously drafted, proposed, and adopted codes of ethics in similar or related professions? Do these codes purport to serve a greater public interest or do they primarily serve the members of the profession? There are several things that can be learned, including: 1) the importance of ...
Actionbioscience, 2014
Genetic engineering, or genetic modification, uses a variety of tools and techniques from biotech... more Genetic engineering, or genetic modification, uses a variety of tools and techniques from biotechnology and bioengineering to modify an organism’s genetic makeup. Transgenics refers to those specific genetic engineering processes that remove genetic material from one species of plant or animal and add it to a different species. Due to the high similarity in genetic sequences for proteins among species, transgenic organisms are able to effectively assimilate and express these transgenes.
Encyclopedia of Social Problems, Oct 5, 2012
Uploads
Papers by Linda MacDonald Glenn