Abstract

SITGES-SERRA, Antoni. Innovate or renovate?: A reflection on the social and scientific issues around technological innovation. Rev. Bioética y Derecho [online]. 2012, n.25, pp.4-18. ISSN 1886-5887.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1886-58872012000200002.

Demographic explosion, globalization of the economy and the degradation of the biosphere, are challenging our life choices and our political priorities. Progress is not what it used to be. Surgeons belong to a social elite and, as such, should have a special commitment to ensure a better future. Our profession must reflect on his social role and make an intellectual and practical contribution to stop the increasing environmental aggression represented by chemical pollution, warming, extinction of vegetal and animal species, chemical pollution, water shortage, waste production and raw materials exhaustion. New technologies are losing cost/effectiveness and aim to the benefits of the medical-industrial lobbies and to institutional marketing. The ethics of innovation are scrutinized and a plea is made for medical care based on sound clinical, scientific and cost/effective practices.

Keywords : technology; innovation; ethics; surgery; environment.

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