Bioethics: Ethics and Morality of Medicine and Biology
The intersection of medical technology, medical practice, and ethical principles is an important field of study, but the rapid advance of medical technology has made it perhaps the most important field of ethics today. Bioethics concerns some of the most troubling topics, like the nature of life, the nature of death, and what sort of life is worth living.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
The term 'FGM' gained popularity in the 1970's (to distinguish it from male circumcision in degrees of brutality) describes one of three processes, (clitoridectomy, excision, or infibulation) all of which involve the partial to full removal or a female's clitoris and/or labia. The practice of cutting women usually exists within a wider notion of women's inferiority and prescribed roles in society.
The term 'FGM' gained popularity in the 1970's (to distinguish it from male circumcision in degrees of brutality) describes one of three processes, (clitoridectomy, excision, or infibulation) all of which involve the partial to full removal or a female's clitoris and/or labia. The practice of cutting women usually exists within a wider notion of women's inferiority and prescribed roles in society.
Stem Cell Research and the Elections
Support for stem-cell research comes not a small interest group pushing a narrow agenda, rather a well organized effort by lobbyists from a broad set of disease and disability organizations, representing people suffering from cancer, paralysis, heart disease and various other illnesses. These groups have pulled together and with their significant money raising ability they are helping pro stem cell research candidates win important votes.
Support for stem-cell research comes not a small interest group pushing a narrow agenda, rather a well organized effort by lobbyists from a broad set of disease and disability organizations, representing people suffering from cancer, paralysis, heart disease and various other illnesses. These groups have pulled together and with their significant money raising ability they are helping pro stem cell research candidates win important votes.
Doctors: Businessmen First, Physicians Second. Don't Trust 'Em?
People go to their doctors in order to get medical help. Presumably, these doctors act with the best interests of their patients in mind - or do they? Doctors are humans, after all, and like everyone else they are under economic pressure. Sadly, that pressure is causing some to neglect being physicians in favor of being businessmen - to the detriment of patient health and safety.
People go to their doctors in order to get medical help. Presumably, these doctors act with the best interests of their patients in mind - or do they? Doctors are humans, after all, and like everyone else they are under economic pressure. Sadly, that pressure is causing some to neglect being physicians in favor of being businessmen - to the detriment of patient health and safety.
Suicide & Prohibition
Suicide generally has a bad reputation in Western culture. For a long time, it has been regarded as something that no sane or moral person would do - thus, it has been prohibited in both religion and law. Today things may actually be getting a little worse, but should we perhaps reconsider and treat suicide as a possibly mature and reasonable choice?
Suicide generally has a bad reputation in Western culture. For a long time, it has been regarded as something that no sane or moral person would do - thus, it has been prohibited in both religion and law. Today things may actually be getting a little worse, but should we perhaps reconsider and treat suicide as a possibly mature and reasonable choice?
Amputee Wannabes
If a person wants to have a healthy limb amputated, should that medical procedure be performed? That sounds like a bizarre question - after all, who would want such a thing? As a matter of fact, doctors and psychologists are beginning to acknowledge that there is a surprisingly significant number of people who suffer from something called apotemnophilia...
If a person wants to have a healthy limb amputated, should that medical procedure be performed? That sounds like a bizarre question - after all, who would want such a thing? As a matter of fact, doctors and psychologists are beginning to acknowledge that there is a surprisingly significant number of people who suffer from something called apotemnophilia...
Medicine, Ethics, and Philosophy
Medicine and ethics are by not strangers. Medicine started out as an aspect of early philosophy. What this meant was that was a close integration of medical expertise and medical ethics existed. Those who engaged in research and experiments to determine what could be done in the fight against ill health were also the ones who led the debate over what should be done in that struggle.
Medicine and ethics are by not strangers. Medicine started out as an aspect of early philosophy. What this meant was that was a close integration of medical expertise and medical ethics existed. Those who engaged in research and experiments to determine what could be done in the fight against ill health were also the ones who led the debate over what should be done in that struggle.
Introduction to Bioethics - The Need for Bioethics in Medicine
Is bioethics really such a critical issue for society today? Even if it didn't exist and we had to invent it today, it would involve the application of ethical principles and arguments to medical and biological issues. So what, if anything, is so special or unique about these issues that requires its own field of ethical inquiry?
Is bioethics really such a critical issue for society today? Even if it didn't exist and we had to invent it today, it would involve the application of ethical principles and arguments to medical and biological issues. So what, if anything, is so special or unique about these issues that requires its own field of ethical inquiry?
Introduction to Bioethics - Principles of Moral Philosophy in Medicine
Are there any basic principles which discussions of bioethics or medical ethics should ideally start with? The field of bioethics is, after all, very wide ranging - it encompasses just about every ethical issue involving medicine and biology. Without some basic and unifying principles, it would be difficult to imagine considering this a single field of study at all.
Are there any basic principles which discussions of bioethics or medical ethics should ideally start with? The field of bioethics is, after all, very wide ranging - it encompasses just about every ethical issue involving medicine and biology. Without some basic and unifying principles, it would be difficult to imagine considering this a single field of study at all.
Bioethics: Pregnancy, Abortion, and the Fetus
Selected essays that address both general issues and specific questions in the area of moral philosophy as it relates to pregnancy, women's autonomy, abortion, and the status of a fetus.
Selected essays that address both general issues and specific questions in the area of moral philosophy as it relates to pregnancy, women's autonomy, abortion, and the status of a fetus.
Selling Organs for Transplants: Commodification and Ownership of Bodies
Should people be allowed to sell their organs? Currently, selling organs for money or other valuable considerations is illegal, but some members of the medical and business communities want to change that. There are two arguments offered: a person's organs belong to them (so they should be able to do with them as they wish) and the shortage of available organs means we need radical solutions.
Should people be allowed to sell their organs? Currently, selling organs for money or other valuable considerations is illegal, but some members of the medical and business communities want to change that. There are two arguments offered: a person's organs belong to them (so they should be able to do with them as they wish) and the shortage of available organs means we need radical solutions.
Medical Care on Death Row: Should Condemned Prisoners Receive Organ Transplants?
As the prison population in America grows in numbers and increases in age, questions and debates about the allocation of medical resources to prisoners will grow in urgency. One issue which arises every so often is whether convicted felons, especially those who are awaiting capital punishment, should receive the same level of medical care as others in society - including scarce donor organs for the purpose of transplantation.
As the prison population in America grows in numbers and increases in age, questions and debates about the allocation of medical resources to prisoners will grow in urgency. One issue which arises every so often is whether convicted felons, especially those who are awaiting capital punishment, should receive the same level of medical care as others in society - including scarce donor organs for the purpose of transplantation.
Questions of Life and Death
Selected essays that address both general issues and specific questions about the beginning and the end of life. What is life and what does it mean to be alive? What is death and is there any "bright line" that allows us to definitively say that someone is no longer alive but is now dead?
Selected essays that address both general issues and specific questions about the beginning and the end of life. What is life and what does it mean to be alive? What is death and is there any "bright line" that allows us to definitively say that someone is no longer alive but is now dead?
Guide to Bioethics: Drugs and Medical Treatment
Selected essays that address drugs, prescriptions, and the sorts of medical treatments which doctors and researchers advocate for patients or the general public. Why do doctors pick the sorts of drugs and treatments that they use? Do these drugs and treatment methods have the benefits that are claimed - and, if not, what should be done about it?
Selected essays that address drugs, prescriptions, and the sorts of medical treatments which doctors and researchers advocate for patients or the general public. Why do doctors pick the sorts of drugs and treatments that they use? Do these drugs and treatment methods have the benefits that are claimed - and, if not, what should be done about it?
Recently Reviewed Books on Bioethics
What is the nature of life? What sort of value does life have - is it intrinsic, or dependent upon something like intelligence? What sorts of responsibilities do doctors have towards their patients - should they relieve any pain, even if it means killing a person? These are the sorts of questions addressed in the field of bioethics - find out more about some recent books on the subject.
What is the nature of life? What sort of value does life have - is it intrinsic, or dependent upon something like intelligence? What sorts of responsibilities do doctors have towards their patients - should they relieve any pain, even if it means killing a person? These are the sorts of questions addressed in the field of bioethics - find out more about some recent books on the subject.
Recently Reviewed Books on Abortion
Abortion is one of the most conentious issues in society - there seems little hope in getting the pro-choice and pro-life sides to agree on anything at all. Reviewed here are some of the best recent books dealing with abortion as a philosophical, religious and legal matter.
Abortion is one of the most conentious issues in society - there seems little hope in getting the pro-choice and pro-life sides to agree on anything at all. Reviewed here are some of the best recent books dealing with abortion as a philosophical, religious and legal matter.