In the World Today
Bioengineers have helped the world by developing quality product for common people. Biosensors assist with monitoring illness, diagnosing people and providing knowledge for those who need it. As shown in Biosensor 2 and 3, products such as glucose meters and O2 sat monitors are used for both self monitoring and saving lives in hospitals.
A biosensor was created to collect air samples to detect 20 pathogens that may be used by terrorists. These devises were placed around the country and later were proven faulty by a detection of a low amount of Tularemia that was later found to have occurred from natural causes. People in Homeland Security have stated that they need "to make sure that the system doesn't have any flaws". Even though bio-devices and biosensors are great, there is no purpose for them if they do not work properly.
Public use of biosensors raise ethical issues. For example, there are biosensors used to detect alcohol levels and the use of narcotics; some believe that use of these devices will begin to invade work places and violate privacy. The ethical issue is that some people believe that biosensors will become a device used to expose people's lives rather than to help them.
Information on Biosensors
http://www.eng.nus.edu.sg/EResnews/0110/sf/sf_1.html
Information on Biosensor for pathogens
http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/GSN_20070208_323043AD.php and
http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/GSN_20051026_511C0D2C.php
Statement from Homeland Security
http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/GSN_20051005_35653F39.php
Information on ethical view
http://209.85.173.132/search?q=cache:Tgu29hFauDoJ:ipts.jrc.ec.europa.eu/home/report/english/articles/vol06/art-bio1.htm+ethical+views+on+biosensors&cd=9&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us