Bioethics

The principle that individuals have the right to make informed, uncoerced decisions about their own bodies and medical care. Respect for autonomy requires providing adequate information, ensuring comprehension, and honoring voluntary choices.

The process by which a patient or research participant voluntarily agrees to a medical intervention or study after receiving and understanding relevant information about its purpose, risks, benefits, and alternatives.

The ethical obligation to act in ways that promote the well-being and best interests of patients or research subjects. Beneficence requires actively contributing to the welfare of others, not merely avoiding harm.

The principle of 'first, do no harm' (primum non nocere), which obligates health care professionals and researchers to avoid causing unnecessary injury, suffering, or risk to patients and subjects.

The fair distribution of health care resources, benefits, and burdens across individuals and populations. Justice demands that access to care not be determined by irrelevant factors such as race, wealth, or social status.

The moral questions surrounding the use of CRISPR-Cas9 and related technologies to modify human, animal, or plant genomes. Key concerns include germline editing (changes passed to future generations), equity of access, unintended off-target effects, and the boundary between therapy and enhancement.

The moral considerations surrounding decisions about withdrawing or withholding life-sustaining treatment, palliative sedation, physician-assisted dying, and advance directives. Central tensions involve the patient's right to die with dignity versus the medical obligation to preserve life.

The moral standards governing the design, conduct, and reporting of scientific research involving human or animal subjects. Core requirements include informed consent, minimization of risk, equitable subject selection, and independent review by an ethics board.

The ethical issues arising from technologies and practices related to human reproduction, including in vitro fertilization, surrogacy, prenatal genetic testing, sex selection, and embryo research.

The moral questions surrounding the procurement, allocation, and distribution of organs for transplantation. Key issues include the definition of death, consent models (opt-in vs. opt-out), living donation, and the prohibition of organ markets.