Bioethics-In-Action (BEIA) is a national, nonprofit organization founded in 2003 to inspire inquiry, discussion and deliberation on issues of science, technology and ethics. BEIA's goal is to promote policy awareness, quality education, inquiry and discussion of the ethical implications of research and development projects in the biological sciences.

BEIA believes all citizens are stakeholders in this timely and critical debate.

 

BEIA invites individuals from all walks of life and viewpoints to become involved and begin by raising serious questions - what the Greeks termed "sober second thoughts" - about the use of science and technology and its unintended consequences.

 

BEIA seeks to provide opportunities for public discussion and involvement through our Teacher Training Institutes and a network of Community Discussion Groups.

 

Common sense and experience demonstrate that the biotechnology revolution represents promise for some and critical challenges for society as a whole. Bioethics involves “deep philosophical questions about the nature of ethics, the value of life, what it is to be a person, the significance of being human…[and] embraces issues of public policy and the direction and control of science. In all of these senses, bioethics is a novel and distinct field of enquiry.” Kuhse and Singer, A Companion to Bioethics.

 

Though there are a number of areas where there is a cross-over or congruence in BEIA’s mission and that of biomedical ethics, we believe that for lay audiences and the generalist the ethical issues of research and development in the biological sciences and especially in bioengineering are the most urgent for public discussion and scrutiny. These issues include human and animal cloning, performance enhancement via genetic manipulation or implantation of computer chips, genetically-modified foods, “designer babies,” and synthetic biology’s creation of new life forms.

 

BEIA supports a skeptical enthusiasm about biotechnological advances - recognizing significant progress but balancing that progress with thoughtful discussion by an informed public.

 

Bioethics-In-Action

Howard Ulfelder, Chairman
Ph: 617-497-2531
howardu@bioethics-in-action.org
Cambridge, MA

 

Hal Shear, Treasurer
Ph: 410-972-9076
hals@bioethics-in-action.org
Annapolis, MD