"Bioethics"?

One has to wonder, is "bioethics" -- as practiced (or sold) in most contexts -- anything more than a political movement masquerading as an academic discipline or as moral reflection?  Check out this announcement for a symposium, "The Legacy of the Terri Schiavo Case:  Why is it so hard to die in America?", sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Bioethics.  Consider also this letter, addressed to "friend[s]" of the Center, from Dr. Arthur Caplan, its Director:

From: Arthur Caplan [ mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2006 4:23 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Penn Center for Bioethics


January 2006

Dear Friend,

Do you think that the South Korean cloning scandal could mean the end of embryonic stem cell research? To the opponents of this research it
should. But, the Center for Bioethics is playing a key role in insuring
that ideology does not overwhelm sound science.

The battle over whether the US should permit and fund embryonic stem
cell research has grown especially heated in recent months. While acts
of impropriety regarding cloning have rocked the scientific community,
the failure of one scientist is not grounds for abandoning a promising
area of scientific research.

I am pleased to share with you examples of ways our faculty informed,
challenged and advised policy makers, patient advocacy groups, the
religious community, the media, industry, students, and the public. We
identified the issues, clarified the science and promoted debate on the
ethical, legal and social implications as well as the potential risks
and benefits of stem cell research. On this issue alone, last year
Center faculty:

• testified or helped prepare testimony for legislative committees in
the states of CA, DE, MO and MA; briefed the Lt. Governor of
Massachusetts and a number of candidates for the US Senate;
• addressed many diverse groups and fielded literally hundreds of media
inquiries;
• helped organize and testified at a hearing on the Penn campus with
members of the Democratic caucus from the Pennsylvania legislature;
• sponsored public forums together with the College of Physicians of
Philadelphia, WHYY Public Radio in Philadelphia, Temple University, the
University of Louisville, Committee for the Advancement of Medical
Research, Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and the University
of Oslo in Norway;
• published key articles in a variety of peer-reviewed journals. (Our
study on embryo disposal practices at fertility clinics was requested
often and cited frequently in policy debates in this country and abroad.);
• published an article comparing policies in the UK and the USA on
governance of fertility treatment programs including handling of eggs
and embryos for research;
• assisted the National Can cer Institute, IBM and the National Disease
Research Interchange in beginning to formulate policy about ownership
and access to various forms of stem cells.

We believe that our efforts are empowering policymakers, the media, and
your elected officials with the knowledge to understand the issues
better, and increasing the chances that they will support potentially
life-saving research. Shaping public opinion and policy could, in turn,
make a difference between life and death for some, and quality of life
for many. As you know, stem cell research is but one area where the
Center is having an impact. In the coming months, you will be hearing
from me about other critical areas where the Center is helping to make a
difference.

I thank you in advance for your interest and continued support.

Sincerely,

Arthur L. Caplan, Ph.D.