Medical Bioethics and Cultural Diversity

Medical bioethics has developed as a new field of study in the US in the past quarter decade, focusing upon the moral principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. These principles may, however, reflect biases in American culture, rather than a truly universal approach to ethical problems in medicine and health care. Alternative models for bioethics may take the cultural beliefs and practices of different countries more seriously. These different models of bioethics may have important implications for the study of ethical issues in pediatrics. Effective dialogue between America and other countries such as India, especially when focused on particular clinical cases, should expand the understanding of bioethics in those other countries, as well as bringing new light upon American bioethical principles.