Overview

Bioethics is the study of the ethical issues emerging from advances in biology and medicine. It is a multidisciplinary field combining philosophy, theology, law, and medicine.

Core Idea

The core idea is that just because we can do something (technologically), doesn’t mean we should. We need ethical guardrails for the power of modern science.

Formal Definition

Bioethics typically relies on four key principles (Beauchamp and Childress):

  1. Autonomy: Respecting the patient’s right to choose.
  2. Beneficence: Acting in the patient’s best interest.
  3. Non-maleficence: “Do no harm.”
  4. Justice: Fair distribution of resources.

Intuition

  • CRISPR: We can now edit human genes. Should we eliminate genetic diseases? What about making “designer babies” with higher IQs? Bioethics asks where to draw the line.
  • Organ Transplants: Who gets the one available heart? The youngest? The sickest? The richest?

Examples

  • Cloning: The ethical debate over cloning humans (identity, safety, playing God).
  • End of Life: Euthanasia, palliative care, and the definition of “brain death.”
  • Human Experimentation: The history of abuses (like Tuskegee) led to strict bioethical codes for research.

Common Misconceptions

  • Misconception: It’s just for doctors.
    • Correction: It affects everyone (patients, families, voters).
  • Misconception: It always says “no” to progress.
    • Correction: It aims to guide progress responsibly, not stop it.
  • Medical Ethics: A subset focusing on clinical practice.
  • Research Ethics: Rules for conducting experiments.
  • Transhumanism: The movement to use technology to enhance human capabilities beyond biological limits.

Applications

  • Hospital Ethics Committees: Groups that help resolve difficult cases in hospitals.
  • Public Health: Debates over vaccine mandates or lockdowns (individual liberty vs. public good).

Criticism and Limitations

  • Western Bias: The four principles are often criticized as being too Western/individualistic.
  • Vagueness: Principles often conflict (Autonomy vs. Beneficence), and the theory doesn’t always tell you which one wins.

Further Reading

  • Principles of Biomedical Ethics by Beauchamp and Childress
  • The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot