Is “Universal Bioethics” Value free? Uncovering Culturally Determined Bioethics
Keywords:
Bioethics, Islamic Bioethics, Universal Bioethics, Secular Bioethics, Beauchamp and Childress, Principlism, Autonomy, WorldviewAbstract
The supposition of this paper is that bioethics in its different strata is culturally determined. Other than universal in the sense of ‘neutral’, secular bioethics-which is internationally leading the field of bioethics academically and in praxis - is an expression of a particular, materialistic worldview that does generally not consider spiritual or other-worldly dimensions. Islamic culture, based on the particular worldview of tawhid - the profession that there is only one Creator who created the universe and mankind, and that the purpose of human existence is the servitude to Him - has produced its own bioethics. Under Islamic bioethics, the human body is not the person’s possession, but rather an entrusted good (amanah) which will return to its Creator after death. The human being will be held responsible for its interaction and care taking of its physical shape. Beginning and end of life are predetermined and not subject to human decision making. The paper looks into the most prominent secular bioethical model, Beauchamp’s and Childress’ principlist approach (Principles of Biomedical Ethics, 2013), more particularly the principle of autonomy, and how it intersects in practice against a background of Muslim recipients in a majority or minority background. Discussed case studies will focus on beginning and end-of-life decisions, such as abortion, prenatal and preimplantation diagnostics, termination of life support, donor consent to organ transplantation after death, euthanasia, and their evaluation through the principle of autonomy at the intersection of secular and Islamic bioethics.
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