[The ambiguity of the bioethics' principles]

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Medical Ethics
• Philosophy of Medicine

Context:

• The principles of bioethics, originating in the US in the late 1970s, have become globally influential.
• Widespread adoption of bioethical terminology by the medical community has occurred over the past few decades.
• Existing bioethical language carries inherent semantic ambiguity, impacting its interpretation.

Purpose:

• To analyze the semantic ambiguity within the core principles of bioethics.
• To examine how this ambiguity influences the understanding and application of medical ethics.
• To propose solutions for refining medical ethical terminology.

Summary:

• The study identifies a core semantic ambiguity in bioethics, oscillating between relativistic interpretations and adherence to a classical concept of Nature.
• This ambiguity has been adopted by the majority of the medical class, who use Hippocratic medical ethics terminology.
• The current situation risks a drift from natural law-based medical ethics (Hippocratic-Christian tradition) towards a more pronounced relativism.

Impact:

• Highlights the potential for misinterpretation and erosion of established ethical frameworks in medicine.
• Underscores the need for precise terminology in bioethics to maintain ethical integrity.
• Offers potential solutions to mitigate the negative consequences of semantic ambiguity in medical ethics.