Imagine a world where doctors can print human organs on demand or edit a patient’s DNA to cure diseases. News Flash! It’s happening right in front of us!
Over the past decade, technology has revolutionized the medical field in ways that were once thought to be impossible. From 3D-printed prosthetics to gene editing cures to previously incurable diseases, science is pushing the boundaries of what it means to heal, restore, and even recreate the human body.
3D printing in medicine has been one of many remarkable advancements in recent years. If you don’t know what three-dimensional (3D) printing is, it is just a machine that uses melted plastic (or another material of choice) to create objects through computing that guides a layering motion. As for 3D printing in medicine, the plastic is exchanged with a hydrogel that contains living cells. These cells get layered through the same exact computing and motions of layering, but rather than creating plastic, they model hearts! It’s important to note that these creations are still in their early stages of research, but as of recently, a huge push has been made to advance these technologies, and we have only just begun. According to the American Hospital Association, they’ve collected data from Statista, reporting, “In 2019, 113 hospitals had centralized 3D facilities for point-of-care manufacturing, compared with just three in 2010.” The use of 3D printing in hospitals has clearly grown dramatically, with many more facilities adopting it for medical applications between 2010 and 2019.
The rise of gene editing, particularly with CRISPR-Cas9 technology, is equally groundbreaking. CRISPR allows scientists to cut out and replace lines of DNA. This innovation has already been used to treat diseases like sickle cell anemia and certain types of cancer. The Stanford Report has conducted an article on the usage of CRISPR-Cas9, claiming that, “In 2019, Victoria Gray was the first person in the U.S. to receive CRISPR treatment for a genetic disease (sickle cell anemia).” This technology has saved people from diseases that would’ve cost numerous lives.
Recently, the University Program kids received a visit from the Stryker company, showcasing different medical innovations and applications that the company constructed. They introduced topics such as 3D printed knee replacements and MEDPOR cranial solutions. Additionally, the use of AI, or Artificial Intelligence, was mentioned in the Q&A, where some students questioned the integration of this system in future medical technologies. Our HOSA advisor and science teacher, Mrs. Murphy, here at Indian Hills believes, “[…] I think we need to be mindful when using AI, as a big aspect of medicine is human compassion and ethical decision making, which AI isn’t designed for.” It seems as though these innovations can provide assistance in a workspace, but misuse can lead to a huge risk in decision-making skills, and pull humans back within the medical field.
Of course, these techniques raise some major ethical concerns, such as misuse and instability. New laws and regulations have been put into action to address such concerns, balancing the potential to save lives with the need to prevent misuse. As research continues, scientists, lawmakers, and society as a whole must work together to navigate the fine line between innovation and ethics.