The Ethics Of 3D Printing

The Ethics Of 3D Printing

Current medicine up has typically depended on the human body as its main model in the creation of organs for transplants and teaching methods. Up until recently X–Rays and cadavers have served as primary reference points for the structure of bones and were used as universal models for almost every human. However, now with the introduction of the 3D printer in the medical field, the possibilities and advancements are growing and the options are becoming endless. Using scientific research on current studies in the medical field will demonstrate what 3D printing is, how 3D printing is revolutionizing surgical procedures and teaching methods, and what actions should be taken to ethically use this invention.

The first 3D printer was developed ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...Although Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) collect images that are three–dimensional, they are viewed on a two–dimensional screen which limits the amount of interaction doctors and surgeons can have. The benefits that using a 3D printer would have to print three–dimensional models of the skull and brain would be that it would allow doctors to physically visualize surgical techniques and options. For procedures such as intracranial electrode implants being able to physically see the curvatures and convulsions would make the planning for the operation more precise and the operation would go smoother. Two neurologists from Harvard and a Boston hospital tested the possibility of using a 3D printer to create three–dimensional models of the skull and brain. Using MRI and CT scans they successfully printed over nineteen brain hemispheres from 7 patients. The cost to print these hemispheres was between $1–5 each. The results showed that using a 3D printer to create the brain models proved to be a cost effective process and could be used for surgical planning, patient education, clinical research, and teaching

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