The Hastings Center Report · 1997 · 131 citations · 0 references
Social SciencesPhilosophyPolitical ScienceBioethicsEthicsMedical EthicsCitizen DeliberationDemocracyMoral PhilosophyNormative Political TheoryPublic DeliberationReproductive EthicsCollective Action TheoryContentious Collective ActionDeliberative DemocracyDeliberative PoliticsEthical DeliberationPolitical Deliberation
Bioethics is rooted in conflicts over abortion, physician‑assisted suicide, and patient autonomy, with controversies continually expanding and framed by the concept of deliberative democracy. The study seeks to identify the most suitable forum for bioethical debates by examining political theories of democracy. The authors propose using deliberative democratic theories that require citizens and officials to justify collective actions with reasons acceptable to all stakeholders.
In some sense, bioethics was built on conflicts. Abortion, physician-assisted suicide, patients' demand for autonomy all are staple and contentious issues. And the controversies continue to proliferate. What forum best serves such debates? A look at political theories of democracy can help answer that question. The most promising for bioethics debates are theories that ask citizens and officials to justify any demands for collective action by giving reasons that can be accepted by those who are bound by the action. This conception has come to be known as deliberative democracy.