The Global Ethics Corner: foundations, beliefs, and the teaching of biomedical and scientific ethics around the world (original) (raw)
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Bioethics in biomedicine in the context of a global higher education area
International archives of medicine, 2010
The University is tasked with drawing together, transmitting and maintaining knowledge, while creating an area where the ethical "sense" required for working in the field of Biology and Biomedicine can be provided. Although scientific knowledge is present on an overwhelming scale in nature and, therefore, its discovery is unceasing, this does not mean that, as a human being, the researcher has no limitations. It is Bioethics that sets this limit. The successful spreading of knowledge, therefore, which is proclaimed with the creation of a Global Higher Education Area, should also pursue the establishment of the bioethical principles necessary for the credibility of science and its progress so that the society that it promotes and sustains becomes a reality.
The Ethics of Globalizing Bioethics
Ethics in Biology, Engineering and Medicine, 2011
In the last decade, there have been efforts to globalize the field of bioethics, particularly in developing countries, where biomedical and other research is increasingly taking place. We describe and evaluate some key ethical criticisms directed towards these initiatives, and argue that while they may be marked by ethical, practical, and political tensions and pitfalls, they can nevertheless play an important role in stimulating critical bioethics culture in countries vulnerable to exploitation by foreign agencies and/or their own authorities.
Bioethics in the Contemporary Global Paradigm
Introduction In the realm of health care, health science and health policy there is definite need for a shared reflection in relation to maintaining an ethical standard of health provision and also most importantly in the area of research and development, the subject of bioethics holds an imperative position (Center for Ethics and Humanities in Life Sciences, Michigan State University 2014). Bioethics involves a reflective process where the existing standard of ethical protocol is deliberated upon by the scientific community, along with the health care recipient population, general public, academia, media, political fronts, civil society groups, religious groups and any other concerned forum or individuals. It should be an inclusive process aiming at achieving the highest standard of ethics possible and the dissemination of knowledge to understand and deal with the nature of an ethical concern or issue becomes preliminary to its objective of achieving the highest standard of ethical practice. The availability of such a neutral space where the deliberation on ethical issues concerning health care, medical research and health policy is mostly a challenge as the authority of the scientific world over the general public usually dominates decision-making processes. Despite such power struggles in determining the highest standard of ethical practice, the discourse on bioethics in the present times have gained currency and the involvement of several pressure groups and vigilant civil society organizations have made the engagement more vibrant and organic with people‘s voices reaching the policy spaces especially through media and
Towards an ethics safe harbor for global biomedical research
Journal of Law and the Biosciences, 2014
Although increasingly global, data-driven genomics and other 'omics'focused research hold great promise for health discoveries, current research ethics review systems around the world challenge potential improvements in human health from such research. To overcome this challenge, we propose a 'Safe Harbor Framework for International Ethics Equivalency' that facilitates the harmonization of ethics review of specific types of datadriven international research projects while respecting globally transposable research ethics norms and principles. The Safe Harbor would consist in part of an agency supporting an International Federation for Ethics Review (IFER), formed by a voluntary compact among countries, granting agencies, philanthropies, institutions, and healthcare, patient advocacy, and research organizations. IFER would be both a central ethics review body, and also a forum for review and follow-up of policies concerning ethics norms for international research projects. It would be built on five principle elements: (1) registration, (2) compliance review, (3) recognition, (4) monitoring and enforcement, and (5) public participation. The Safe Harbor would create many benefits for researchers, countries, and the general public, and may eventually have application beyond (gen)omics to other areas
The increasing significance of ethics in the bioscience curriculum
One of the most striking aspects of recent curricula developments within UK Science has been the growing prominence of bioethics. From university-level Bioscience, through A-level and GCSEs, and as early as Key Stage 3 Science for 11-14 year olds (in the revised Programme of Study, commencing September 2008) the ethical and moral implications of scientific and technological discoveries are being identified as core knowledge. Here we reflect on what is meant by bioethics, outline some of the ethical content being introduced within the UK and further afield, and examine some of the controversies surrounding these developments.
As students in the first academic year of the study of biotechnology and biomedicine it is imperative that certain lifelong concepts are introduced to you. Some of these concepts include those needed on a personal level to help establish logical thinking skills – which is a vital skill to anyone studying in the field of science and technology. Biotechnology is an emerging field of study that has taken centre-stage and a refusal to accept its role in the improvement of science would be a regression into the dark ages; however with its study and application comes some pertinent ethical issues. Thus as a guarantee that we do not train just scientists but human beings with a moral fibre it is necessary that at the earliest stage you are introduced to aspects of the discourse in a non-biased way. However it must be emphasised that there is no absolute right or wrong in these arguments and you as a student is the final judge on the issues presented. The important aspect is that for every discussion your presentation of your views must be based on sound research and your decisions must be informed by this. Equally, paramount is the understanding that everyone individual has his own viewpoint and this must be respected even if we disagree with this.
FIMA YEARBOOK, 2020
Developments in healthcare and biological research methods, and their outcomes, have a global impact, to varying degrees, on different communities depending on cultural sensitivities. The situation thus created raises questions as to the effectiveness of guidelines issued by international bodies, such as UNESCO and WMA, attempting to standardize pertinent regulations. This challenge is further exacerbated by the fact that implementation of such guidelines can be hampered by cultural factors. Therefore, sound analysis of potential cultural elements that might either advocate or impede and hinder implementation would be of great value in formulating such guidelines, and also in predicting the extent to which any given community would abide to them. Failure to adopt such an approach might result in ambivalence, or cunctations and tardiness at best. Some countries that have specific political power, such as the USA (and subsequently Israel), UK and China, in an unabashed and insolent manner disregard many items of these guidelines and simply get away with it. The following chapter attempts to provide analysis on East-West, crosscultural analogies and comparisons in order to depict scenarios of authenticity.
The Global Forum for Bioethics in Research: Past, present and future
South African Journal of Bioethics and Law, 2014
The Global Forum on Bioethics in Research (GFBR) served as a global platform for debate on ethical issues in international health research between 1999 and 2008, bringing together research ethics experts, researchers, policy makers and community members from developing and developed countries. In total, nine GFBR meetings were held on six continents. Work is currently underway to revive the GFBR. This paper describes the purpose and history of the GFBR and presents key elements for its reinstatement, future functioning and sustainability. Potential participants and sponsors are encouraged to contribute actively to the future of this unique international research ethics event.
First UNESCO Bangkok Bioethics Roundtable (BBRT1) Abstracts
2005
The purpose of this meeting is to engage in an interactive dialogue over the priorities for bioethics and ethics of science and technology in Asia and the Pacific, with global implications. How can we apply bioethics declarations and international agreements to enhance the realities of communities across a divided and diverse world? As we develop networks of researchers and policymakers we are bringing together persons from over 30 countries and a wide range of specialties for this roundtable as a further step in the reflection and action on ethics of science and technology.