Bioethics and Medical Ethics Commons^™

Anticipating Animal Ethics Concerns In Islet Xenotransplantation, Sheetal Mohanty, Daniel J. Hurst, Amy Glasofer

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) necessitates life-sustaining insulin therapy or, in select cases, islet allotransplantation, which is limited by donor scarcity. Islet xenotransplantation (XTx; genetically modified pig-to-human transplant) is one potential alternative. Patient perceptions about islet XTx are largely unexplored. This study examined patient support for XTx when T1D patients learned that 25-50 pigs may be needed to treat one adult. Patient viewpoints toward islet XTx suggest animal ethics concerns may extend to the magnitude of animals required to treat a single patient. As clinical trials advance, addressing these values and risk tolerances is essential for developing informed consent frameworks …

Characterizing Core Outcomes Of Responsible Stewardship For Human Genomic Data In The Cloud, Vasiliki Rahimzadeh, Bronwyn Walsh, Heidi L Rehm, Mildred Cho, Amy L Mcguire

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

We present findings from a scoping review of the genomic data sharing literature used to inform a core outcomes set for responsible data stewardship in the cloud. Genomic and related health data stemming from government funded research have undergone mass migration to the cloud where they can be more securely stored, accessed, and analyzed within shared computing environments. While this migration reflects a shift in privacy and security infrastructure for cloud-based repositories as oversight becomes more globalized, it also necessitates new data stewardship responsibilities to align authorized data access with ethical data use. Responsible data stewardship refers to the ethical …

Preserving Life In An Age Of Autonomy: A Critique Of Physician-Assisted Suicide, Adeline Holcombe

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis critiques physician-assisted suicide (PAS) as a reflection of Western thought’s shift from a biblical sanctity-of-life ethic toward autonomy and relativism. Through analysis of biblical and historical foundations, major cases, and state PAS laws, it argues that legalization weakens the state’s interest in preserving life, normalizes suicide, and exposes vulnerable populations to coercion, inadequate safeguards, and legal expansion. The thesis concludes that PAS laws should be repealed and that palliative care, hospice, and mental health treatment provide more compassionate and ethically sound alternatives.

Ce Spotlight:, David Foe

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This source highlights on-demand continuing education courses provided by the MDA to help dental professionals meet state relicensure requirements. Featured topics include diagnosing trigeminal neuropathy, identifying human trafficking warning signs, ethics and dental jurisprudence, and 2026 updates for infection control. The courses are designed to be convenient and are counted toward specific Michigan Board of Dentistry requirements, such as pain management and delegation of duties.

Mitigation Of Race-Based Antihypertensive Prescribing, Victoria Scaccia Msn Rn Cnl Dnp, Bridget O'Brien Dnp, Stephanie Crane Md, Amanda Bradke Md

North American Conference to End Race-Based Medicine

No abstract provided.

Six Steps To Squats: A Training Protocol To Guide Functional Rehabilitation Following Isolated Lower Extremity Fractures, Batoul Baydoun, Abdurrahman Ehsan, Manar Chebli, Zarrar Chauhdri, Ahmed Memon, Ahmad Almaat Bs, Omar Abdalla Bs, Haytham Alqasmi Bs, Ameen Suhrawardy Md, Rahul Vaidya Md

North American Conference to End Race-Based Medicine

No abstract provided.

Reconsidering The Use Of Race & Ethnicity In Clinical Decision-Making: The Path Towards Liberation Medicine, Donna Ahmadian Ms, Mph

North American Conference to End Race-Based Medicine

No abstract provided.

Sleeve Gastrectomy Vs. Glp-1 Agonists (Semaglutide): A Cost-Effectiveness Perspective On Long-Term Obesity Management, Naushad Khan, Luv Agarwal, Ritesh Sheth Md

North American Conference to End Race-Based Medicine

No abstract provided.

Contemplating Race In Clinical Algorithms: Educating The Physicians Of Tomorrow, Adam Gaetz

North American Conference to End Race-Based Medicine

No abstract provided.

Reimagining Black Maternal Health Narratives: Embracing A Vitality Framework For Joy, Liberation, And Healing, Ijeoma Nnodim Opara, Yasmine M. Elmi

North American Conference to End Race-Based Medicine

No abstract provided.

Voices From The Field: Provider Perspectives On The Implementation And Impact Of Race-Neutral Pfts, Kumbie Madondo Phd, Zoelene Hill Phd, Kimberly Murdaugh Md Ms, Natoushka Trenard Md

North American Conference to End Race-Based Medicine

No abstract provided.

Gender Disparities In Medical Student Clinical Experiences During Obstetrics And Gynecology Rotations In The Usa, Naushad Khan, Luv Agarwal, Ritesh Sheth Md, Rehana Sheikh

North American Conference to End Race-Based Medicine

No abstract provided.

Governing Addiction: An Anthropological Comparison Of Care In The United States And The Netherlands, Kiren K. Bagga

Bates College Journal of Political Studies

This article examines addiction care as a form of moral governance through a comparative anthropological analysis of the United States and the Netherlands. Drawing on a Foucauldian theory of biopolitics alongside this study argues that approaches to addiction treatment reveal how states differentially value life, citizenship, and vulnerability. Joan Tronto's relational definition of ethical care is used to move beyond a solely moral context, towards an ethical understanding of both caretakers and those who require care. In the United States, addiction policy has historically functioned as a punitive and moralizing project, shaped by racialized drug criminalization, neoliberal ideals of individual …

A Treatise On Tool Development: The Arthroscope’S Cultural, Technological, And Metascientific Translation, Montgomery F. Waterer

Honors Theses

The arthroscope was a revolutionary development in the fields of medicine, engineering, and ethics. There are many valuable lessons to be learned from the story of its development and translation that are relevant to the future of medicine and society. Beginning with a brief description of the tool’s design, this paper will examine a period within the history of the arthroscope. This window contains multiple innovators and ends with the life and work of Dr. Robert Jackson. In examining the relevant historical facts of its development, this paper will then briefly address the importance of sports medicine in the development …

Keratopigmentation: A Comparative Review Of Safety, Indications, And Clinical Outcomes, Emmy L. Colon Alamo

Undergraduate Scholarship and Creative Works

Throughout the years, there has been an upsurge in the quantity of cosmetic procedures aimed at changing eye color or appearance. This trend raises significant concerns about patient safety and visual health, as although many methods are promoted worldwide, their efficacy and, most importantly, safety varies greatly. This review looks at the safety of procedures that alter eye color or appearance, focusing mainly on cosmetic keratopigmentation, which is currently the only legally accepted method for changing eye color in the U.S.

A review of clinical studies was conducted to evaluate the outcomes and complications related to keratopigmentation. Then, these findings …

Statistical Inference Is Not Moral Reasoning: The Case Against Ai On Hospital Ethics Boards, Elan J. Haronian

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

As generative AI becomes more integrated in healthcare, it seems inevitable that AI will eventually be used on hospital ethics committees. However, before implementation, their roles need careful consideration. Although AI promises to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and reduce human workloads, there are important ways in which it is limited, especially when human emotion and connection are crucial, as in clinical ethics boards.

In this paper, I highlight several problems preventing AI from being useful on hospital ethics boards. These include issues of opaque reasoning (the “black box” problem), liability, transparency, privacy, and consent. While there are proposed frameworks for …

Re-Purposing Pre-Existing Tilapia Aquaculture Open-Design System For Zebrafish Biomedical Research Purposes, Luke Cantu, David Sierra, Skyleigh Curtis, Maya Avila

ATU Scholars Symposium

Title: Re-purposing pre-existing tilapia open-design aquaculture systems for zebrafish biomedical research purposes.

Background: Zebrafish (Danio rerio) models are gaining popularity in biomedical research; however, the high infrastructure cost, at approximately $20,000 per unit, is a significant hurdle for primary undergraduate institutions (PUIs) establishing zebrafish facilities. This study assesses if repurposing existing tilapia open-design aquaculture systems could be a cost-effective method for zebrafish facility establishment.

Methods: Between November-2025 to February-2026, the study used a pre-existing tilapia aquaculture open-design system with personnel modified outlet filters. The water quality of this system was monitored and recorded. The study compared the stabilization phase or …

Navigating The Ethical Landscape Of Ai Created Responsibility Gaps In Healthcare, Kelsey Dwyer '26

Honor Scholar Theses

This work is a philosophical analysis of the ethical dilemma of AI-created responsibility gaps, or the idea that it is challenging to find someone to hold responsible for outcomes produced by an autonomous system. In particular, my focus is specifically on addressing responsibility gaps created by AI used in healthcare. This complex issue of responsibility gaps becomes more intense in the setting of critical areas of life like healthcare, where moral responsibility is a foundational component of upholding medical ethics. My paper will take a deep dive into exploring the intricacies of this complex problem by applying a pre-existing conceptual …

Exploring The Ethical And Practical Considerations Of Artificial Intelligence In Real-World Health Care Settings: Stakeholder Focus Group Study, Carmen Wendy Ulizio, Devika Dua, Naya Meenkashi Mukul, Santosh Areti, Kristin Kostick-Quenet, Vasiliki Nataly Rahimzadeh

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies continue to transform how we research human disease, diagnose and treat patients, and operate hospitals. However, emerging ethical dilemmas surrounding their design, use, and oversight demand both policy attention and empirical research.

Objective: This study aims to explore current AI development, integration, and use activities across the Texas Medical Center (TMC), the largest medical center in the world, and identify emerging ethical priorities.

Methods: We conducted a total of 3 qualitative focus groups via Zoom (Zoom Video Communications, Inc) between May and June 2025 to gauge the perspectives of 19 clinicians, developers, administrators, and patient …

Justice, Autonomy, Beneficence, And Non-Maleficence: The Global Failure To Heed Ethical Mandates In Birth Spaces, Julia Dees

Richard T. Schellhase Essay Prize in Ethics

Respectful and safe care in all birthing spaces has long been an ideal that global communities fail to meet. Birthing people are disrespected, physically or emotionally harmed, or left to completely fend for themselves during a period of extreme emotional and medical vulnerability. Historically, autonomy especially has been ignored in birthing spaces with medical trends like the twilight sleep, where women were drugged into a state of unconsciousness during birth (Taylor, 2023), demonstrating the desire of western medicine, in particular, to reduce birthing people to bystanders in their own birth. While birth trends and medical treatments have changed throughout time, …