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Against culturally sensitive bioethics.

Tomislav Bracanovic¹

¹Department of Philosophy, Center for Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, Borongaj Campus, Borongajska cesta 83d, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia, tomislav.bracanovic@hrstud.hr.

Medicine, Health Care, and Philosophy

|July 27, 2013

Summary

This article argues against culturally sensitive bioethics, finding it impractical and potentially discriminatory. It suggests this approach weakens ethical standards and is inconsistent with Western biomedical science.

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Area of Science:

Bioethics
Cultural Studies
Philosophy of Science

Background:

The concept of "culturally sensitive bioethics" proposes integrating diverse cultural traditions and moral beliefs into bioethical discourse.
This approach aims to make bioethics more inclusive and relevant across different societies.
However, the practical and ethical implications of such sensitivity are debated.

Purpose of the Study:

To critically evaluate the plausibility and implications of adopting a "culturally sensitive" bioethics.
To examine the potential drawbacks of prioritizing cultural traditions in bioethical decision-making.
To argue against the feasibility and ethical soundness of this approach.

Main Methods:

Philosophical analysis of the concept of cultural sensitivity in bioethics.
Critical examination of the normative and practical consequences of integrating diverse cultural beliefs.
Argumentative critique based on logical consistency and ethical principles.

Main Results:

The article contends that cultural sensitivity in bioethics is implausible due to three main reasons.
It is argued that this view leads to overly flexible disciplinary boundaries, inconsistent with Western biomedical science.
Furthermore, it is deemed normatively useless due to descriptive and selective cultural analysis, and it risks justifying discrimination.

Conclusions:

The integration of diverse cultural traditions into bioethics, as proposed by cultural sensitivity, is fundamentally flawed.
This approach is deemed impractical, normatively weak, and ethically hazardous, potentially leading to discrimination.
Bioethics must maintain consistent disciplinary boundaries and avoid selective or descriptive cultural relativism.