BMC Medical Ethics is an open access journal publishing original peer-reviewed research articles in relation to the ethical aspects of biomedical research and clinical practice, including professional choices and conduct, medical technologies, healthcare systems and health policies.

The paper, titled "Biomedical engineering and ethics: reflections on medical devices and PPE during the first wave of COVID-19" is authored by ABSPIE Lab's staff Dr Alessia Maccaro, David Piaggio and Prof. Leandro Pecchia, along with Concetta Anna Dodaro from the Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.

This article critically analyses the major surfacing issues and related ethical implications linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the past year and a half, hot debates revolved around the allocation of resources, the responsibilities of science, and the inadequacy and non-universality of the norms and regulations on biomedical devices and personal protective equipment. These issues, analysed one year after the first wave of the pandemic, come together in the appeal for responsibility for thought, action, and, sometimes, even silence. This highlights the importance of interdisciplinarity and the definitive collapse of the Cartesian fragmentation of knowledge, calling for the creation of more fora, where this kind of discussions can be promoted.

Read the paper at https://bmcmedethics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12910-021-00697-1