Ethical Challenges in Nanomedicine and Their Impact on Population Acceptance

Abstract

New medical approaches are increasingly based on the clinical implementation of nanotechnologies. The use of nanotechnology promises to expand and improve the possibilities of medical intervention. However, due to the complex interdisciplinarity of these approaches in clinical practice, new ethical issues arise that cannot be treated based on the already existing paradigms in bioethics. Another issue facing the clinical implementation of nanotechnology is the lack of ethical guidelines and a well-formulated legislative framework. And the context of the clinical implementation of nanotechnology generates numerous oppositions among the population. Therefore, we will carry out a review, based on field literature and media sources, on the acceptability and ethical concerns of the population regarding the clinical implementation of nanotechnology. The population's concerns will be analyzed by comparing them with the ethical issues of the clinical implementation of nanotechnology highlighted in the literature. Thus, within the discussion section, we will try to answer the following questions: To what extent is the population concerned with the current ethical issues of implementing nanotechnology or with the futuristic ones? Do patients have an utilitarian approach or one based on personal values and beliefs? Is their attitude towards nanotechnology based on an individualistic or societal perspective?