[Dignity and autonomy in North American bioethics]

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Philosophy of Medicine
• Human Rights

Context:

• The historical development of bioethics.
• The limitations of the principle of autonomy.
• The philosophical underpinnings of ethical frameworks.

Purpose:

• To argue for the necessity of an inherent concept of human dignity in bioethics.
• To critique the sufficiency of autonomy as a sole guiding principle.
• To propose dignity as a foundational concept for bioethical protection.

Summary:

• Bioethics requires an intrinsic concept of human dignity to safeguard its core values, mirroring its historical commitments.
• The principle of autonomy, while important in preventing some bioethical abuses, is insufficient on its own.
• A concept akin to dignity is essential for comprehensive protection against ethical transgressions in bioethics.

Impact:

• This perspective challenges prevailing Anglo-American bioethical thought, which may find the concept of inherent dignity unacceptable.
• It calls for a re-evaluation of foundational principles in bioethics.
• Advocates for a more robust ethical framework to prevent future abuses.