bioethics

American  

[bahy-oh-eth-iks] / ˌbaɪ oʊˈɛθ ɪks /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. a field of study concerned with the ethics ethics and philosophical implications of certain biological and medical procedures, technologies, and treatments, as organ transplants, genetic engineering, and care of the terminally ill.

---

bioethics British  

/ ˌbaɪəʊˈɛθɪks, ˌbaɪəʊˈɛθɪsɪst /

noun

1. (functioning as singular) the study of ethical problems arising from biological research and its applications in such fields as organ transplantation, genetic engineering, or artificial insemination

---

bioethics Scientific  

/ bī′ō-ĕth′ĭks /

1. The study of the ethical and moral implications of medical research and practice.

---

bioethics Cultural  

1. The application of ethics to the science and practice of biology, especially as modern science is applied to human life and reproduction.

---

Discover More

With the advent of cloning and research on embryonic stem cells, bioethics has become an important branch of scientific inquiry.

Other Word Forms

• bioethical adjective
• bioethicist noun

Etymology

Origin of bioethics

First recorded in 1970–75; bio- + ethics

Example Sentences

"Children who choose to estrange themselves aren't making a little decision on a whim," explained Joshua Stein, a researcher who tracks online trends, especially those that intersect with psychology and bioethics.

From Salon

Without the assurance of confidentiality, a president might well decide he’s better off steering clear of doctors altogether, said George Annas, a professor of health law, bioethics and human rights at Boston University.

From Los Angeles Times

“We are constantly underestimating animals,” David Mellor, a retired professor of applied physiology and bioethics, told Salon from his home in New Zealand.

From Salon

I felt like I had a strong network of fellow travelers, colleagues in the medical school, and particularly in the bioethics center, who would feel the same way about it.

From Salon

Seema Mohapatra, a health law and bioethics expert at Southern Methodist University, told Salon, she is concerned about the renewed focus on the Comstock Act.

From Salon