The interpersonal significance of a fork: what biomedical engineering should do!

The unique value to humankind of a project in biomedical engineering is to be found in its potential to restore the ability to experience deep and meaningful relationships. Thus, the ultimate goal of biomedical engineering is not just maintenance of physical life, or the amelioration of some aspect of physical disease or dysfunction, per se. Rather, what is done in these areas is ultimately to restore the person, as completely as possible, to the network of personal relationships.