Understanding collective agency in bioethics

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Social Science
• Medical Sociology

Background:

• Traditional bioethics prioritizes the individual moral subject, neglecting the role of social groups in healthcare decision-making.
• Complex healthcare systems involve diverse social groups influencing bioethical discourse and medical decisions.
• The growing influence of collective actors in biopolitics and bioethics necessitates a re-evaluation of moral subjecthood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the underestimation of collective actors' significance in bioethical scholarship.
• To characterize and justify collective moral claims within healthcare.
• To establish criteria for 'collective agency' and 'collective autonomy' in bioethics.

Main Methods:

• Development of four normative-practical criteria to assess collective agency.
• Analysis of patient organizations and families as distinct types of collective actors.
• Examination of the role of trust in collective moral claims and bioethical practice.

Main Results:

• Identifies specific conditions under which collective actors can be considered to possess 'collective agency'.
• Demonstrates that patient organizations and families function as relevant collective actors in bioethics.
• Highlights the normative importance of shared trust for collective action in healthcare.

Conclusions:

• Bioethics must expand its focus beyond individual moral subjects to include collective actors.
• The proposed criteria offer a framework for understanding and evaluating collective agency in bioethical contexts.
• Recognizing collective actors and fostering trust are crucial for navigating complex healthcare systems.