Russell DiSilvestro
Bowling Green State University
How should followers of the late John Rawls think about the moral status of the human embryo? Those familiar with Rawls’ work might assume that it either does not provide enough material to formulate an answer to this question, or that the answer it provides is decidedly l…
A Rational[1] Look at the Abortion Controversy
by Mario Derksen, M.A. cand.
International Catholic University
Presented on April 26, 2003
at the Ohio University Student Conference on Applied Ethics, Athens, Ohio
Revised and Updated: May 1, 2003
One of the most hotly contested issues inside and outside of biomedical ethics today is abortion. The discussion received a new impe…
Ololade Olakanmi, Grinnell College
Winner, 2003 essay contest
In light of the severe shortage of transplantable organs, scientists have been seriously considering using pigs as potential organ donors. In the past, pig-to-human transplantation was an idle hope, but with recent advances researchers have been able to develop this procedure into a potential therapy. However…
Esther Warshauer-Baker, Dartmouth College
There are several models for medical decision-making within the doctor-patient relationship, and this paper discusses three of these models: paternalism, informed decision-making, and shared decision-making. I describe each model and give arguments for the plausibility of each. I conclude that each is problematic. Paternal…
Christine Bezouska, University of Pittsburgh
While IRB review of human subject research is well-established in academic medicine, oversight of technical innovation, especially in surgery, is not. The goal of protecting the interests of human patients and subjects is accepted; the best means to that goal is very much in dispute. Some authors assert that all innovation is esse…
Joy Kellen, University of Calgary
The Canada Health Act promotes foundational principles of universality and accessibility of health-care for all Canadians. Contrary to popular belief, a systematic analysis of social determinants of health indicates differential access continues to exist. This paper considers the impact of distributive justice on access to health-car…
Christian Wolfe, Washington & Jefferson College
Ohio University Institute for Applied and Professional Ethics
Student Conference
April 26-27
(724) 503 – 1070 Ext 7844
50 S. Lincoln St
Campus Box 1174
Washington, PA 15301
Abstract
Recent advances in reproductive technologies, especially those that alter the germ-line, raise many ethical and the…
The field of bioethics, as with most areas of applied ethics, is laden with propositions about the intrinsic value of life, treating persons as ends in themselves, and bestowing priority to individual rights and autonomy. These ideals are important because they signify a society?s unwillingness to promote the common g…
Karen Hornsby, Bowling Green State University
The claim is often made that education is a universal right. Yet rarely is support offered for this claim. Certainly there are consequentialist reasons for a society to educate its citizens. But are people entitled to an education; is education a right? In an attempt to answer this question, this paper will examine a basic needs appr…
Ellen M. Maccarone, University of Florida
Department of Philosophy
330 Griffin-Floyd Hall
PO Box 118545
Gainesville, FL 32611-8545
Ohio University Student Applied Ethics Conference
Athens, OH
April 25-27, 2003
A current issue in the area of environmental ethics concerns the role of scientists as advocates for environmental policy. This raises two distinct and complex e…