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The British Journal of General Practice... Feb 2019
Topics: Bioethics; European Union; Humans; Politics; United Kingdom
PubMed: 30704995
DOI: 10.3399/bjgp19X700865 -
BMC Medical Ethics Mar 2023Given that biases can distort bioethics work, it has received surprisingly little and fragmented attention compared to in other fields of research. This article provides... (Review)
Review
Given that biases can distort bioethics work, it has received surprisingly little and fragmented attention compared to in other fields of research. This article provides an overview of potentially relevant biases in bioethics, such as cognitive biases, affective biases, imperatives, and moral biases. Special attention is given to moral biases, which are discussed in terms of (1) Framings, (2) Moral theory bias, (3) Analysis bias, (4) Argumentation bias, and (5) Decision bias. While the overview is not exhaustive and the taxonomy by no means is absolute, it provides initial guidance with respect to assessing the relevance of various biases for specific kinds of bioethics work. One reason why we should identify and address biases in bioethics is that it can help us assess and improve the quality of bioethics work.
Topics: Humans; Bias; Bioethics; Ethical Theory; Morals
PubMed: 36879251
DOI: 10.1186/s12910-023-00894-0 -
Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics Aug 2021This paper explores an emerging sub-field of both empirical bioethics and experimental philosophy, which has been called "experimental philosophical bioethics"...
This paper explores an emerging sub-field of both empirical bioethics and experimental philosophy, which has been called "experimental philosophical bioethics" (bioxphi). As an empirical discipline, bioxphi adopts the methods of experimental moral psychology and cognitive science; it does so to make sense of the eliciting factors and underlying cognitive processes that shape people's moral judgments, particularly about real-world matters of bioethical concern. Yet, as a normative discipline situated within the broader field of bioethics, it also aims to contribute to substantive ethical questions about what should be done in a given context. What are some of the ways in which this aim has been pursued? In this paper, we employ a case study approach to examine and critically evaluate four strategies from the recent literature by which scholars in bioxphi have leveraged empirical data in the service of normative arguments.
Topics: Bioethics; Ethical Theory; Humans; Judgment; Morals; Philosophy
PubMed: 34787789
DOI: 10.1007/s11017-021-09546-z -
AJOB Neuroscience 2022
Topics: Bioethics; Neurosciences; Trust
PubMed: 34931948
DOI: 10.1080/21507740.2021.2001088 -
Journal of Bioethical Inquiry Mar 2021
Topics: Bioethics; Colonialism; Consciousness; Humans
PubMed: 33835305
DOI: 10.1007/s11673-021-10102-6 -
The American Journal of Bioethics : AJOB Jun 2021Empirical research in bioethics has developed rapidly over the past decade, but has largely eschewed the use of technology-driven methodologies. We propose "design...
Empirical research in bioethics has developed rapidly over the past decade, but has largely eschewed the use of technology-driven methodologies. We propose "design bioethics" as an area of conjoined theoretical and methodological innovation in the field, working across bioethics, health sciences and human-centred technological design. We demonstrate the potential of digital tools, particularly purpose-built digital games, to align with theoretical frameworks in bioethics for empirical research, integrating context, narrative and embodiment in moral decision-making. Purpose-built digital tools can engender situated engagement with bioethical questions; can achieve such engagement at scale; and can access groups traditionally under-represented in bioethics research and theory. If developed and used with appropriate rigor, tools motivated by "design bioethics" could offer unique insights into new and familiar normative and empirical issues in the field.
Topics: Bioethical Issues; Bioethics; Dissent and Disputes; Empirical Research; Humans; Morals
PubMed: 33502959
DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2020.1863508 -
Monash Bioethics Review Dec 2020Interactions between microbes and human hosts can lead to a wide variety of possible outcomes including benefits to the host, asymptomatic infection, disease (which... (Review)
Review
Interactions between microbes and human hosts can lead to a wide variety of possible outcomes including benefits to the host, asymptomatic infection, disease (which can be more or less severe), and/or death. Whether or not they themselves eventually develop disease, asymptomatic carriers can often transmit disease-causing pathogens to others. This phenomenon has a range of ethical implications for clinical medicine, public health, and infectious disease research. The implications of asymptomatic infection are especially significant in situations where, and/or to the extent that, the microbe in question is transmissible, potentially harmful, and/or untreatable. This article reviews the history and concept of asymptomatic infection, and relevant ethical issues associated with this phenomenon. It illustrates the role and ethical significance of asymptomatic infection in outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics-including recent crises involving drug resistance, Zika, and Covid19. Serving as the Introduction to this Special Issue of Monash Bioethics Review, it also provides brief summaries of the other articles comprising this collection.
Topics: Asymptomatic Infections; Bioethical Issues; Epidemics; Ethics, Clinical; Ethics, Research; History, 19th Century; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; Public Health
PubMed: 33326062
DOI: 10.1007/s40592-020-00123-z -
Philosophy, Ethics, and Humanities in... Dec 2017Ethical analyses of disorders of consciousness traditionally focus on residual awareness. Going one step further, this paper explores the potential ethical relevance of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Ethical analyses of disorders of consciousness traditionally focus on residual awareness. Going one step further, this paper explores the potential ethical relevance of the unawareness retained by patients with disorders of consciousness, focusing specifically on the ethical implications of the description of the unconscious provided by recent scientific research.
METHODS
A conceptual methodology is used, based on the review and analysis of relevant scientific literature on the unconscious and the logical argumentation in favour of the ethical conclusions.
RESULTS
Two conditions (experiential wellbeing and having interests) that are generally considered critical components in the ethical discussion of patients with disorders of consciousness might arguably be both conscious and unconscious.
CONCLUSIONS
The unconscious, as well as consciousness, should be taken into account in the ethical discussions of patients with disorders of consciousness.
Topics: Bioethics; Consciousness Disorders; Humans
PubMed: 29284489
DOI: 10.1186/s13010-017-0053-9 -
Swiss Medical Weekly Oct 2022
Topics: Humans; Mpox (monkeypox); Bioethics
PubMed: 36342973
DOI: 10.57187/smw.2022.40003 -
Monash Bioethics Review Dec 2023There are increasing pressures for bioethics to emphasise 'translation'. Against this backdrop, we defend 'speculative bioethics'. We explore speculation as an important...
There are increasing pressures for bioethics to emphasise 'translation'. Against this backdrop, we defend 'speculative bioethics'. We explore speculation as an important tool and line of bioethical inquiry. Further, we examine the relationship between speculation and translational bioethics and posit that speculation can support translational work. First, speculative research might be conducted as ethical analysis of contemporary issues through a new lens, in which case it supports translational work. Second, speculation might be a first step prior to translational work on a topic. Finally, speculative bioethics might constitute different content altogether, without translational objectives. For each conception of speculative bioethics, important methodological aspects determine whether it constitutes good bioethics research. We conclude that whether speculative bioethics is compatible with translational bioethics-and to what extent-depends on whether it is being employed as tool or content. Applying standards of impact uniformly across bioethics may inappropriately limit speculative bioethics.
Topics: Humans; Bioethics; Bioethical Issues
PubMed: 37770722
DOI: 10.1007/s40592-023-00181-z