A Matter of Accuracy Nanobiochips in Diagnostics

Authors: Ronan Le Roux

Publish Date: 2014/05/05

Volume: 21, Issue: 2, Pages: 343-358

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Abstract

The paper deals with the introduction of nanotechnology in biochips Based on interviews and theoretical reflections it explores blind spots left by technology assessment and ethical investigations These have focused on possible consequences of increased diffusability of a diagnostic device neglecting both the context of research as well as increased accuracy despite it being a more essential feature of nanobiochip projects Also rather than one of many parallel aspects technical legal and social in innovation processes ethics is considered here as a ubiquitous system of choices between sometimes antagonistic values Thus the paper investigates what is at stake when accuracy is balanced with other practical values in different contexts Dramatic nanotechnological increase of accuracy in biochips can raise ethical issues since it is at odds with other values such as diffusability and reliability But those issues will not be as revolutionary as is often claimed neither in diagnostics because accuracy of measurements is not accuracy of diagnostics nor in research because a boost in measurement accuracy is not sufficient to overcome significancechasing malpractices The conclusion extends to methodological recommendationsThis work was carried out within the Nano2E “Nanotechnologies Épistémologie et Éthique” project n°ANR09NANO001 funded by the French National Research Agency ANR in the frame of its 2009 programme in Nanosciences Nanotechnologies and Nanosystems P3N2009 The author would like to thank the Nano2E project team X Guchet B BensaudeVincent V Nurock S Pellé S Loève and the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and criticism

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