Bioethics Reenvisioned: A Path toward Health Justice

Bioethics must embrace a broader and more meaningful view of justice to address health disparities and structural injustice caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. This book argues for a more social understanding and application of justice, humility in assessing expertise, a broader research agenda, and greater appreciation of the health implications of global warming.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 06 December 2022
Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

Bioethics requires a broader moral vision to address the complex challenges of our time. Emerging in the 1970s, it responded to rapid advancements in biomedical technology and the glaring injustices in clinical care and research. Since then, bioethics has primarily focused on respecting autonomy, promoting beneficence, and avoiding harm, often applying these principles within the confines of medical institutions. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of climate change have brought to the forefront the urgent issues of health disparities and structural injustice. It is time for bioethics to expand its horizons and embrace a more comprehensive and meaningful view of justice.

This book makes a compelling case for why and how bioethics must embrace a broader perspective, drawing upon the tools and insights of social sciences, epidemiology, and public health. Authors Nancy M. P. King, Gail E. Henderson, and Larry R. Churchill argue for a more social understanding and application of justice, a deeper humility in assessing expertise in bioethics consulting, a broader and more relevant research agenda, and a greater appreciation of the profound health implications of global warming.

By integrating these disciplines, bioethics can better address the complex ethical dilemmas that arise in healthcare, research, and other fields. It can promote equity, fairness, and social responsibility, ensuring that the benefits and risks of medical advancements are distributed fairly and that the voices of marginalized communities are heard and valued.

Moreover, a broader view of justice can help bioethics navigate the ethical challenges posed by emerging technologies and scientific discoveries. It can encourage dialogue and collaboration among different stakeholders, including patients, researchers, policymakers, and community members, to ensure that decisions are made in the best interests of all and that the potential risks and benefits are fully understood.

In conclusion, bioethics needs a expanded moral vision to address the complex challenges of our time. By embracing a broader and more meaningful view of justice, incorporating the tools and insights of social sciences, epidemiology, and public health, and promoting equity, fairness, and social responsibility, bioethics can become a more effective force for positive change in healthcare and society as a whole.

Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781469671574