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‘Being a burden’: an Illegitimate Ground For Assisted Dying
The issue of the legality in England and Wales of physician-assisted suicide has recently been revisited by the Divisional Court. Judgment is awaited. The judgment of the Court of Appeal, granting permission for judicial review, is here. The basic issue before the Court of Appeal was the same as that in Nicklinson v Ministry of
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Talking Back to Science?
By Stephen Rainey In June 2017, the European Court of Justice ruled that it was legal for a French citizen to sue a drug company for damages following a vaccination, and an illness. The ruling caused some consternation as it seemed a legal vindication of anecdote over scientific rigour. This is a dramatic case, not
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Guest Post: Track Authorities Are Wrong To Ban Women With Naturally High Testosterone levels
Michael S. Dauber, MA According to a story by Catherine Caruso published in STAT News this week, authorities at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) are getting set to debate whether or not women with hyperandrogenism, or higher-than-expected testosterone levels, should be restricted from competing against women with “normal” or “expected” levels. The debate over the IAAF rules
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Vacancy: Researcher in Global Health Bioethics
The newly established Wellcome Centre for Ethics and Humanities is currently advertising for the post of Researcher in Global Health Bioethics – Grade 7: £31,076 – £38,183 p.a. The post is full-time (part-time considered) and fixed-term for 3 years. Based within the Nuffield Department of Population Health, the newly established Wellcome Centre for Ethics and
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Does Female Genital Mutilation Have Health Benefits? The Problem with Medicalizing Morality
Does Female Genital Mutilation Have Health Benefits? The Problem with Medicalizing Morality By Brian D. Earp (@briandavidearp) Four members of the Dawoodi Bohra sect of Islam living in Detroit, Michigan have recently been indicted on charges of female genital mutilation (FGM). This is the first time the US government has prosecuted an “FGM” case since a federal law was passed
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What the Present Debate About Autonomous Weapons is Getting Wrong
Author: Michael Robillard Many people are deeply worried about the prospect of autonomous weapons systems (AWS). Many of these worries are merely contingent, having to do with issues like unchecked proliferation or potential state abuse. Several philosophers, however, have advanced a stronger claim, arguing that there is, in principle, something morally wrong with the use
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We are Hiring: Research Fellow in Bioethics & Research Fellow in Neuroethics
We are delighted to announce two new vacancies at the new Wellcome Centre for Ethics and Humanities and the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics. Follow the links below for information including how to apply: Research Fellow in Bioethics Research Fellow in Neuroethics
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Why Vegetarians Should Be Prepared to Bend Their Own Rules
Alberto Giubilini Republished from Aeon Magazine It’s a common enough scenario. A vegetarian has been invited to a friend’s place for dinner. The host forgets that the guest is a vegetarian, and places a pork chop in front of her. What is she to do? Probably her initial feelings will be disgust and repulsion. Vegetarians
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Animal Welfare, Reducing Meat Consumption and the Instrumental Use of Moral Reasons
Author: Rebecca Brown In this post, I consider how moral reasons may be used instrumentally – that is, to bring about some desired end. I take as an example the public debate around reducing meat consumption. I suggest that although animal welfare is recognised as important in a number of contexts, it is rarely used
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Can We Trust Research in Science and Medicine?
By Brian D. Earp (@briandavidearp) Readers of the Practical Ethics Blog might be interested in this series of short videos in which I discuss some of the major ongoing problems with research ethics and publication integrity in science and medicine. How much of the published literature is trustworthy? Why is peer review such a poor quality control mechanism? How can we