Bioethics: Shaping Medical Practice and Taking Diversity Seriously

Abstract Bioethics functions within a world of deep moral pluralism; universe discourse debating ethical analysis, public policy, and clinical practice in which common, generally accepted morality does not exist. While religious thinkers are often approached hermeneutic suspicion for assuming standards that cannot be justified rational terms, secular bioethicists routinely find themselves exactly the same intellectual predicament. That theory, proposed values, or normative content is secular, it invoke God any particular perspective, mean rationally grounded, necessarily true, universally binding. As authors this issue The Journal Medicine Philosophy make clear, reality directly impacts debates regarding concepts health, illness, disease, accounts socially acceptable health-risky behaviors, political frameworks shape policy. result, honest discussion diverse moral, religious, perspectives remains essential clarifying challenges, intuitions, ideological judgments healthcare Depending on political, scientific guiding bioethical careful scrutiny will tend to support rather different policies practices, each likely worth consideration.