Nanotechnology: is there a need for ethical principles?

Nanotechnology (NT) is concerned with materials and systemswhose structures and components exhibit novel physical, chemicaland biological properties due to their nanoscale size. This newscientific discipline is fast becoming a major driver of the futuredirection of health care and is likely to have a significant impacton society, medicine and nursing. This article demonstrates thatethical reflections lie at the heart of nursing. In contextualizingthe ethics of NT, this article questions the conclusion reachedby others that ethical reflections on NT lag behind its scientificdevelopments. Instead it proposes that the ethical issues raisedby NT are similar to those relating to biotechnology, consideredby ethicists since the 1970s. Consequently, this article arguesthat a foundation of ethical reflections already exists that canbe transferred to NT. Finally, this article asserts the need fornurses to be proactively involved in interdisciplinary discussionslikely to extend the current ethical reflections of autonomy, nonmaleficence,beneficence and justice to NT