Ethics in Biomedical Instrumentation

1. ETHICS IN BIOMEDICAL
INSTRUMENTATION
SAMI-UD-DIN
PhD Scholar (Islamic Banking and Finance)
Riphah International University Islamabad

2. DEFINITION OF BIOMEDICAL
INSTRUMENTATION
• Biomedical instrumentation is the application of the principles of biomedical engineering,
which focuses on the devices and mechanics used to measure, evaluate, and treat
biological systems.
• It focuses on the use of multiple sensors to monitor physiological characteristics of a
human or animal.

3. IMPORTANCE
• Biomedical engineers may not be medical practitioners, but they are considered
indirect practitioners.
• They work closely to the medical practitioners.
• They facilitate medical practitioners in:
1. Assessing patients’ physiologies
2. Diagnosing the concerned diseases
3. Treatment of the concerned diseases
4. Help them in rehabilitating the patients

4. DEPENDENCE ON THE MEDICAL
INSTRUMENTS
• DOCTORS ARE NOW A DAYS ALMOST DEPENDENT ON THE MEDICAL
INSTRUMENTS. THEREFORE, BIOMEDICAL INSTRUMENTS ARE NEEDED TO BE:
• PRECISELY DESIGNED
• ACCURATE IN ASSESSMENTS
• USED FRIENDLY

5. ETHICS IN INSTRUMENTATION
• INFORMED CONSENT
• VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION
• DO NO HARM
• CONFIDENTIALITY
• ANONYMITY
• ONLY ASSESS RELEVANT FEATURES

6. INFORMED CONSENT
• The person participating in the evaluation is fully informed about the evaluation being
conducted.
• Patients need to be made aware of the purpose of the use of instruments and findings
of the diagnosis will be used.
• If there are any potential adverse impacts of their participation and who will have access
to the findings, then the concerned should be fully informed.
• Additional information should also be provided that the patients should not be in trouble
in any way during the use of the instrument.

7. VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION
• Patients whom assessments are required should be free from coercion. Patients should
be to withdraw their consents at any time without negatively impacting on their
involvement in future medical services.
• Other than patients should be allowed to discontinue a program. It is the right of
participants to leave an assessment/program at any time, therefore no pressure should
be placed on those who choose not to continue. explanations are also not required.

8. DO NO HARM
• Harm can be both physical and/or psychological and therefore can be in the form of:
stress, pain, anxiety, diminishing self-esteem or an invasion of privacy.
• It is imperative that the assessment process does not in any way harm (unintended or
otherwise) patients/participants.

9. CONFIDENTIALITY
• Confidentiality means that any identifying assessment/diagnostic information should not
made available to or accessed by anyone, but the doctor/person concerned only.
• Confidentiality also ensures such identifying assessments/information should not be
published in patients’ names or any other identifications.
• There should be no opportunity for patients/participants to be identified even though
their names are not used.

10. Anonymity
• Anonymity is a stricter form of privacy than confidentiality, as the identity of the
patients/participants remains unknown to the public.
• The confidentiality should only be known to the doctor/person concerned.

11. ONLY ASSESS RELEVANT FEATURES
• Only assess those physiologies that are relevant and required strictly.
• Patients/participations should not be opened to unnecessary risk.
• It is important to keep assessments/evaluations as simple as possible and to remain
focused on the intention of the evaluation and what the data gathered will be used for.