Medical information

Nanotech: a "Wild West" Frontier?

Some lawmakers have huge plans for the nascent yet burgeoning field of nanotech, which focuses on materials measured in the billionths of a meter. The Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003 (HR 766) would funnel $2,168,500,000 ($2.16 billion) into various government agencies to "promote Federal nanotechnology research, development, demonstration, education, technology transfer, and commercial application activities" Yet few people in or out of government even know what nanotechnology is, much less what ethical minefields it may harbor. Without rigorous ethical guidance, nanotechnology can become a "wild west frontier"--a field with few standards and little law.

CMA member Chris Hook, MD is one of a relatively small number of scientists familiar with the field of nanotech, and he has provided consultation for CMA on the issue to congressional staff. He reviewed HR 766 and noted the following.

Chris Hook, MD: "It is absolutely critical that the ethics, legal and social issues (ELSI) be at the head of the priorities. I fear that these are tag-along, for show, elements, but need to be front and center, and part of what guides the programs. Remaining competitive is indeed a very important goal, but it must not in the end be the top priority over promoting and protecting human and ecological flourishing, and social stability. Students, scientists and engineers need to receive training in ethics and how to integrate social and ethical responsibility into their technical education and job function.

"The public and its elected representatives are not sufficiently aware of the NBIC (nano, bio, info and cogno) program of the NSF and Dept of Commerce to explicitly and specifically enhance, modify and re-engineer human beings. One of the key parts of the project is nano. Yet the American people have not discussed whether they think this is what we should be spending our money on or doing.

"The head of the NNI and NBIC projects said at the second NBIC meeting in February that the spending on the project to re-engineer human beings will be second only to the moon landing program in terms of government spending and commitment. Really? Where has been the discussion? Where has been the public support for this? We haven't even begun to adequately consider the tremendous social, ethical and legal issues involved, and that is why I think ELSI must take center stage.

Nanotechnology Research and Development Act Bill text (bill number = HR 766)