Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
RISK
AS
AN
ETHICAL
CONCEPT
Risk is tied to almost every technical professional decision. To demonstrate this, let us consider an
illustrative hypothetical case.
23
Cornwallis, a township in a county seat in the southeastern region of the United States, has a
population of about 5000, mainly living in subdivisions within a large rural buffer surrounding
the town's central business district. As such, many of the township's residents draw their drinking
water from private wells. The aquifer from which the water is taken consists of unconsolidated
basalt gravel that is intermixed with various minerals. Also, like much of the Southeast, the soils
are quite deep, sometimes deeper than 10 meters. They have weathered in place for many millions
of years (known as ultisols).
24
For the past few years, a number of residents in the Beagle Creek Road neighborhood have
complained that the water they have been drinking is linked to what they believe to be an
inordinately large number of cancers in Cornwallis. The Beagle Creek Road neighborhood has
about 150 dwelling units. Following the latest meeting of the County Board of Commissioners
in which a number of Beagle Creek residents testified, the Board approved $21 500 to test the
well water and authorized the County Health Department to conduct brief phone interviews with
the residents, mainly inquiring about cancer histories (number of cases and the specific types of
cancer). The county epidemiologist is hoping to have about 115 households participate in the
interviews. She says that “the more people who participate in the interviews, the better we will
know what is going on.” The study is expected to be completed in three months.
The well testing, which is entirely voluntary, must measure pathogenic bacteria, radon, and
“chemicals like pesticides,” according to the Board. Residents will also receive, free of charge,
kits to be used to detect radon in the indoor air of their homes. The county health department
has some experience in biological and chemical testing, but has not previously conducted health
surveys and interviews of this type coupled with the physical testing.
The residents report that nine residents of Beagle Creek have died of cancer in the past ten
years. In addition to the cancer complaints other Beagle Creek residents complain of kidney stones.
A sixty-year-old retired police officer blames his stones on water that looks clear from the tap but
leaves a precipitate and stains when left to settle. They also have complaints about the aesthetics
of the water, especially the discoloration of clothing that is washed, usually leaving a reddish
stain. Those who have installed filters complain that they must be changed daily. Some say that
the problem is relatively recent and that the laundry problems only began after a number of new
residents installed wells in the last fifteen years. Others say that the problems fluctuate, where
there are periods of time when the water seems fine, but then exhibits unpleasant smell, bad taste,
and other problems.
The county epidemiologist is trying not to overpromise, stating that “cancer is a tough disease to
study since it differs from acute diseases like those usually studied by the health department, such as
gastrointestinal tract infections.” The study will have to be augmented by advice from State cancer
experts, particularly on how to determine the cancer incidence.
25
Also, previous environmental
studies in the county have not been able to link diseases to groundwater contamination. Thus, the
