Nanomedicine in Europe: Regulating under uncertainty

摘要: Nanomedicine is a revolutionizing field that can benefit both diagnosis and treatment and contribute to a better quality of life. Despite the expected huge benefits, the potential risks on human health are significant as well. This thesis aims to defense a perspective that in case of nascent technologies, where the data are still emerging and scientific uncertainty prevails, risk governance should sustain the process of scientific knowledge by developing guidelines, codes of conduct and public information and provide a minimum level of safety acceptable to protect human health. Although nanomedicine is at an early stage of development some cautious measures should be taken that will provide regulatory mechanisms able to respond to the challenges posed by nanomedicine, establish a minimum level of safety but will also allow the further promotion of scientific knowledge. This multidisciplinary approach can contribute in adopting regulatory choices and tools that will help manage the risks, protect human health and promote scientific knowledge.