Study On Birnbacher's Thoughts Of Biomedical Ethics

Dieter Birnbacher is a famous biomedical ethicist in modern Germany. The biomedical ethical theory established by Birnbacher has its distinctive character in the biomedical ethics in Germany and has a widespread influence in the community of scholars. However, studied little about his biomedical ethical theory in our country. This paper tries to study systematically the thoughts of Birnbacher's biomedical ethics. It elaborates his thought on ISCT, Enhancing the brain in artificial way, Embryo research, Human cloning, Human dignity, Euthanasia and Physician-assisted suicide. Based on these, it refines the features, theoretical contributions and limitations of Birnbacher's biomedical ethical theory. Birnbacher's biomedical ethical theory has a widespread influence in the community of scholars because he feels keenly that the application of innovative technology to medical ethical could bring many ethical issues and he rethinks profoundly and analyzes carefully. To comprehend his theory systematically offers some lessons for establishing biomedical ethical theory suitable to our country.Birnbacher's biomedical ethical theory has a feature of utilitarianism on studying his biomedical theory carefully. This inclination exhibits prominently in the intervention in the brain. Firstly, he has different views to ISCT and Enhancing the brain in artificial way. He agrees to ISCT used for medical treatment but disagrees to Enhancing the brain in artificial way which causes different human intelligence because it violates equality and universality of utilitarianism. Secondly, on Embryo Research, he holds that Embryo in the early stages of its development (up to 14 days) be allowed to research. But he doesn't study the concept of the person which should be discussed in the Embryo Research. This reveals the limitations of his thoughts and practicability of the utilitarianism. Thirdly, on Human dignity of human cloning, he concludes that cloning couldn't violate human dignity. Finally, Physician-assisted suicide should be allowed to conduct in terms of patients, doctors and legislators. This also reflects pleasure principle of the utilitarianism. Anyway, Birnbacher's biomedical ethical theory still contains much creative thoughts and enriches new thinking and new views for solving the ethical problems of the biomedicine.