Biases in bioethics: a narrative review.

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Philosophy of Science
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Biases can significantly distort bioethics research.
• Attention to biases in bioethics is fragmented compared to other research fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of relevant biases in bioethics.
• To offer guidance for assessing biases in specific bioethics contexts.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on cognitive, affective, and moral biases.
• Categorization of moral biases into framings, moral theory, analysis, argumentation, and decision biases.

Main Results:

• Identified various biases including cognitive, affective, imperatives, and moral biases.
• Detailed discussion of moral biases with a proposed taxonomy.
• The overview is not exhaustive but offers initial guidance.

Conclusions:

• Identifying and addressing biases is essential for enhancing the quality of bioethics work.
• A systematic approach to understanding biases can improve ethical analysis and decision-making.