Document Detail


Theoretical resources for a globalised bioethics.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21109698     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Data-Review    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
In an age of global capitalism, pandemics, far-flung biobanks, multinational drug trials and telemedicine it is impossible for bioethicists to ignore the global dimensions of their field. However, if they are to do good work on the issues that globalisation requires of them, they need theoretical resources that are up to the task. This paper identifies four distinct understandings of 'globalised' in the bioethics literature: (1) a focus on global issues; (2) an attempt to develop a universal ethical theory that can transcend cultural differences; (3) an awareness of how bioethics itself has expanded, with new centres and journals emerging in nearly every corner of the globe; (4) a concern to avoid cultural imperialism in encounters with other societies. Each of these approaches to globalisation has some merit, as will be shown. The difficulty with them is that the standard theoretical tools on which they rely are not designed for cross-cultural ethical reflection. As a result, they leave important considerations hidden. A set of theoretical resources is proposed to deal with the moral puzzles of globalisation. Abandoning idealised moral theory, a normative framework is developed that is sensitive enough to account for differences without losing the broader context in which ethical issues arise. An empirically nourished, self-reflexive, socially inquisitive, politically critical and inclusive ethics allows bioethicists the flexibility they need to pick up on the morally relevant particulars of this situation here without losing sight of the broader cultural contexts in which it all takes place.
Authors:
Marian A Verkerk; Hilde Lindemann
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article     Date:  2010-11-25
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of medical ethics     Volume:  37     ISSN:  1473-4257     ISO Abbreviation:  J Med Ethics     Publication Date:  2011 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-01-24     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7513619     Medline TA:  J Med Ethics     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  92-6     Citation Subset:  E; IM    
Affiliation:
University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Postbus 30001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. m.a.verkerk@med.umcg.nl.
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