Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 5.1 Event tree on
whether to use mercury in a
medical device.
DECISION
Should mercury (Hg) be used in device?
OPTIONS
Design device using
nontoxic material
Design device using
toxic material (Hg)
Conduct risk
assessment to
determine worst-
case scenarios of Hg
in humans
SUBOPTIONS
Build “as
is”
CONSEQUENCES
Patients
exposed to
Hg
Toxic
effects
expected in
certain
patients
Report
ignored
More
expensive
up-front costs
Report
heeded
Neurotoxic
effects (e.g.,
learning/
ADHD)
Sensitive
patients not
exposed
Successful,
long-term use
of device
Lawsuits, negative
publicity, loss of
profits
Similarly, green and biomedical engineering may seem to compete against
different hazards. For example, the choice of using a toxic substance is complex
(see Fig. 5.1). Critical paths, PERT charts, and other flowcharts are commonly
used in design and engineering, especially for computing and circuit design. They
are also useful in life-cycle analysis if sequences and contingencies are involved
in reaching a decision, or if a series of events and ethical and factual decisions
lead to the consequence of interest. Thus, each consequence and the decisions
made along the way can be seen and analyzed individually and collectively. 1 Other
charts need to be developed for safety training, the need for fail-safe measures, and
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