Empirical Methods in Bioethics: A Cautionary Tale
Authors: Clarence H. Braddock
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2010)

Editorials16 March 2010Empirical Methods in Bioethics: A Cautionary TaleClarence H. Braddock III, MD, MPH and David Magnus, PhDClarence H. Braddock III, MD, MPHFrom Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA 94305-5475, and Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5475.Search for more papers by this author and David Magnus, PhDFrom Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA 94305-5475, and Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5475.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-152-6-201003160-00011 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Bioethicists and others have argued about the proper role for empirical research in addressing ethical concerns because of the increased use of social science, health services, and outcomes research methods in the medical ethics domain. In fact, a long tradition in normative ethics, the branch of ethics that seeks to make definitive arguments about what we ought to do, scoffs at attempting to derive conclusions about what one ought to do from empirical observations about what people actually do (1, 2).In this issue, Halpern and colleagues (3) confront this dilemma in their innovative and rigorous empirical study of attitudes ...References1. Pearlman RA, Miles SH, Arnold RM. Contributions of empirical research to medical ethics. Theor Med. 1993;14:197-210. [PMID: 8259527] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Braddock CH. The role of empirical research in medical ethics: asking questions or answering them? [Editorial]. J Clin Ethics. 1994;5:144-7. [PMID: 7919485] MedlineGoogle Scholar3. Halpern SD, Raz A, Kohn R, Rey M, Asch DA, Reese P. Regulated payments for living kidney donation: an empirical assessment of the ethical concerns. Ann Inten Med. 2010;152:358-65. LinkGoogle Scholar4. Ives J, Draper H. Appropriate methodologies for empirical bioethics: it's all relative. Bioethics. 2009;23:249-58. [PMID: 19338525] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Parker M. Two concepts of empirical ethics. Bioethics. 2009;23:202-13. [PMID: 19338521] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Rothman SM, Rothman DJ. The hidden cost of organ sale. Am J Transplant. 2006;6:1524-8. [PMID: 16827852] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. Kahn JP, Delmonico FL. The consequences of public policy to buy and sell organs for transplantation. Am J Transplant. 2004;4:178-80. [PMID: 14974937] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA 94305-5475, and Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5475.Disclosures: None disclosed. Forms can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M10-0293.Corresponding Author: Clarence H. Braddock III, MD, MPH, Division of General Internal Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, MSOB, Room X210, MC 5475, 251 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305-5475; e-mail, [email protected]edu.Current Author Addresses: Dr. Braddock: Division of General Internal Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Medical School Office Building, Room X210, MC 5475, 251 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305-5475.Dr. Magnus: Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, 701 Welch Road, #1105, Palo Alto, CA 94305. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoRegulated Payments for Living Kidney Donation: An Empirical Assessment of the Ethical Concerns Scott D. Halpern , Amelie Raz , Rachel Kohn , Michael Rey , David A. Asch , and Peter Reese Metrics Cited ByBioethics Education in Africa: Still Complex ChallengesRemoving Financial Disincentives to Organ Donation: An Acceptable Next Step? 16 March 2010Volume 152, Issue 6Page: 396-397KeywordsBioethicsKidneysMedical geneticsMedical servicesMotivationPediatricsPublic policyResearch ethicsStatistical methodsSurgeons ePublished: 16 March 2010 Issue Published: 16 March 2010 CopyrightCopyright © 2010 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...