By Giorgia Pozzi. The hype about the promises of machine learning (ML) systems in medicine is real, even though not always justified. As ethicists have been increasingly pointing out in the past years, quite some work still needs to be done to ensure their responsible use and safeguard fundamental bioethical principles, such as justice and […]
Latest articles
Challenging lesser evil justifications for non-clinically indicated uses of antipsychotics in aged care facilities
By Hojjat Soofi. The administration of antipsychotic medications to residents with dementia in aged care facilities remains a subject of considerable controversy. A major focus of the controversy has been on the (questionable) influence that non-clinical considerations have on the rate of antipsychotic prescriptions in aged care facilities. Often, the primary beneficiaries of antipsychotic uses […]
A political approach to thinking about self-harm
By Guy Aitchison and Ryan Essex. In April 2016, the Iranian refugee, Omid Masoumali, set himself on fire in front of UN inspectors at the Nauru island detention centre run by Australia. He later died of his injuries after delays in his treatment. Before carrying out his act, he shouted “This is how tired we […]
Suicide assistance in Switzerland: for palliative care physicians, the reality is more complex than you might think
By Martyna Tomczyk. As is well known, assistance in suicide is allowed in Switzerland. Although this practice is not explicitly regulated by law, Article 115 of the Criminal Code stipulates that assisting someone to commit suicide is only punishable if this is carried out for selfish reasons. Private right-to-die organizations have developed their activity in […]
Champagne, cava, Prosecco, and whisky: Drinks and diminishing marginal utility
By David Shaw. Christmas is here, and for many people that means buying some booze. As it’s a special occasion, not just any alcohol will do; many will buy champagne, if not for Christmas then to see in the New Year. And a dram (whisky) is another traditional way to celebrate Hogmanay. But when budgets […]
How much information is enough? It should be your choice!
By Sophie Ludewigs, Jonas Narchi, Lukas Kiefer and Eva C. Winkler. It is rare to return from a visit at the doctor’s office or a clinic and feel informed to a satisfactory degree. In many cases, one will either feel completely overwhelmed by the amount of medical information and the professional lingo used, or, on […]
Children into this world? Really?
By Matti Häyry. People have children for various reasons. Some of these concentrate on anything but the child. God demands it, nature requires it, society needs it, family and friends wish it, people themselves want it. Others focus on the children. They would have a good life, a good-quality life, a life worth living, and […]
Loneliness is major public health concern, and bioethicists should rise to the challenge
By Zohar Lederman. Loneliness nowadays poses one of the greatest threats to human health. It was prevalent worldwide before Covid and has gotten worse after Covid. It negatively affects our health, increasing the risk of depression, suicide, cardiovascular disease and early mortality. Loneliness also makes us miserable. Identifying these, several governments, the American Academies of […]
A global vaccine tax to expand COVAX’s mandate
By Felicitas Holzer, Federico Germani, Ivette Ortiz Alcántara, Julian März & Nikola Biller-Andorno Equal access to vaccines has been one of the key ethical challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most scholars consider the massive purchase and hoarding of vaccines by high-income countries, especially at the beginning of the pandemic, to be unjust towards vulnerable people […]
Extra-corporeal gestation, or why things still stink
By Giulia Cavaliere. It is once again November and I am once again—three years since writing this piece—thinking about extra-corporeal gestation, the futuristic prospect of supporting foetuses in an artificial uterine environment. Considering that it cannot be the approaching winter months that sparked a wave of fresh thoughts on this technological possibility, what is? A […]