Ethics & Bioethics Danielle Nicholson Outreach Officer REMEDI- Regenerative Medicine Institute NUI Galway

What is ethics? Ethics = morality Morality is a unique feature of humans -Influenced by cultural factors- i.e. history, traditions, education, religion, etc -But we share some universal experiences of duty- i.e. tell the truth, do not harm others, do not steal, etc Goal –To intellectually analyze the human dimension in all of its complexity

Decision making and ethics: ‘Ethical reasoning’ 1.Fact deliberation 2.Value deliberation 3.Duty deliberation 4.Testing consistency 5.Conclusion

Bioethics- the bridge between facts and values During the second half of the 20th century, knowledge and technical power in biological sciences had been increasing continuously but reflection about the values at stake had not progressed in the same proportion.

UNESCO’s 15 Bioethical principles Human dignity & human rights Benefit & harm Autonomy- individual responsibility ConsentPersons without the capacity to consent Human vulnerability & personal integrity Privacy / Confidenti- ality Equality, Justice, Equity Non- discrimination Respect for cultural diversity Solidarity & cooperation Social responsibility & health Sharing of benefits Protecting future generations Protecting biodiversity, biosphere & environment

Ethics Committees Conflicts often arise when people are entitled to decide and take part in decision-making processes Conflicts are more frequent as respect for human freedom and moral diversity increases Collective deliberation- the main purpose of ethics committees

Advice for collective deliberation… Don’t fear the ‘slippery slope’ Strive to make decisions that will protect future generations Consider various perspectives Be brave!

Thank you for your attention!