[SydPhil] MQ Philosophy Seminar on Tuesday the 4th of April: Katrina Hutchison (MQ)

[Adam Hochman]

Not enough sex on the bench? The neglected problem of bias and bench testing

Katrina Hutchison (MQ)

Date: Tuesday, 4th of April
Time: 13:00 - 14:00
Venue: W6A 708, Macquarie University

ABSTRACT: Laboratory (or bench) testing plays a significant role in ensuring that surgical implants such as hip replacements and pacemakers are safe. Often bench tests are backed by standards, such as those set by the international organization for standardization (ISO). Approvals bodies, as well as individual surgeons and patients, place considerable faith in laboratory testing and the standards that underpin them. Despite the important role of bench testing, there has been very little discussion of associated ethical issues. In this paper I argue that laboratory testing regimes are vulnerable to biases and conflicts of interest that threaten patient safety. I illustrate the risks by discussing the case of metal-on-metal hip replacements. Although regulators and standards bodies have scope to address these problems, I argue that in fact standards bodies such as the ISO are themselves vulnerable to bias and conflict of interest. I conclude with preliminary recommendations for addressing these issues.

Contact: Adam Hochman (adam.hochman at mq.edu.au<mailto:adam.hochman at mq.edu.au>) or Mike Olson (michael.olson at mq.edu.au<mailto:michael.olson at mq.edu.au>)

A google calendar with details of other events in this series is available for viewing and subscription by following this link: goo.gl/3Iu7hk<https://goo.gl/3Iu7hk>


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Adam Hochman
Lecturer in Philosophy & Macquarie University Research Fellow

Department of Philosophy | W6A, Room 733
Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia

Staff Profile | http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/faculties_and_departments/faculty_of_arts/department_of_philosophy/staff/adam_hochman/

Academia.edu Page | https://mq.academia.edu/AdamHochman

Philpapers Page | http://philpapers.org/profile/48626

Personal Website | adamhochman.com

T: +61 2 9850 8859<tel:%2B61%202%209850%206895>  |  arts.mq.edu.au<http://arts.mq.edu.au/><http://arts.mq.edu.au/><http://mq.edu.au/>

[Macquarie University]<http://mq.edu.au/>

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