Bioethics and Genetic Engineering

Prevalence of Bioethics

• Bioethical issues are increasingly prevalent due to advancements in science and technology, raising new ethical questions and dilemmas.

Genetic Engineering and CRISPR

• Human Genetic Modification: Gene editing technologies like CRISPR-Cas9 raise debates over modifying human embryos, "designer babies," and long-term impacts on the human gene pool.
• Gene Therapy: Offers potential cures for genetic disorders, but raises questions about access, consent, and implications of altering an individual's genetic makeup.

Stem Cell Research

• Embryonic Stem Cells: Research and therapy are controversial due to the destruction of embryos, raising concerns about the moral status of the embryo.
• Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs): A less controversial alternative, but ethical issues related to consent and potential misuse remain.

End-of-Life Decisions

• Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide: Debates continue over the legality and morality of allowing individuals to end their lives with medical assistance, balancing the right to die with potential abuses and societal implications.
• Advance Directives and Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders: Ethical dilemmas arise when patients' wishes are unclear or when there is disagreement among family members or medical professionals about end-of-life care.

Reproductive Issues

• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): Ethical concerns include the treatment of surplus embryos, the rights of donors, and the implications of selecting for specific traits in offspring.
• Surrogacy: Ethical concerns include the exploitation of surrogate mothers, the rights of the surrogate and the intended parents, and the legal status of the resulting child.

Clinical Trials and Research

• Informed Consent: Ensuring that participants in clinical trials fully understand the risks and benefits and are not coerced is a major ethical concern.
• Use of Placebos: The ethics of using placebos in clinical trials, particularly when effective treatments are available, is debated.

Healthcare Access and Equity

• Resource Allocation: Ethical issues arise in determining how limited medical resources, such as organs for transplantation or new, expensive treatments, should be allocated.
• Universal Healthcare: Debates over the ethical obligation to provide healthcare to all citizens and how to achieve this equitably are ongoing.

Data Privacy and AI in Medicine

• Patient Data Protection: The increasing use of electronic health records and big data in healthcare raises concerns about the privacy and security of personal health information.
• AI and Machine Learning: The use of AI in diagnosing and treating patients brings ethical questions about accountability, bias in algorithms, and the transparency of decision-making processes.

Environmental and Public Health Ethics

• Climate Change: The impact of climate change on public health and the ethical responsibility to mitigate its effects, particularly on vulnerable populations, is a growing concern.
• Pandemic Response: Ethical dilemmas in managing public health emergencies, such as prioritizing vaccine distribution and balancing individual rights with community safety, have been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.