Alan Rubenstein to speak on Human Dignity and Bioethics

Alan Rubenstein, a Senior Consultant to the President's Council on Bioethics, will discuss "Human Dignity and Bioethics in Three Keys" on Wednesday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in Gould Library at Carleton College. The public is invited to attend. Rubenstein researches issues in U.S. domestic policy related to biotechnology and social changes in the practice of medicine. He is the principal author of the Council's forthcoming report to the U.S. President and Congress regarding the legal determination of death.

His talk will discuss the President's Council's recent publication "Human Dignity and Bioethics" (available at www.bioethics.gov). This work is a compilation of essays from scholars around the country who were asked to explain how they understand the concept of human dignity and whether they think it is useful for bioethics. At stake here is the way that policy makers address issues like stem cell research, genetic screening, "heroic" treatment at the end of life and organ transplantation. Should "protecting human dignity" be a concern in their deliberations? Is there enough agreement on what human dignity is to make this possible? Or would it be better, instead, to avoid use of this contentious and difficult concept?

Rubenstein will explore three different shades of meaning for the term "dignity" that are each relevant to a different sort of ethical conversation. The talk will not present a single theory of dignity or a single set of recommendations for policy. Instead, it will endeavor to map out the landscape of opinions on this issue and highlight the place of various policy choices within that landscape. The goal of this work is to facilitate the debate on issues that confront Americans in the news on a daily basis.