Bioethics and Structural Injustice

Funded project from 2024 to 2027

The interdisciplinary network Bioethics and Structural Injustice brings together researchers over a period of three years to advance approaches to understanding and addressing structural injustice in healthcare.

Aim of the project

Structural injustice is a central topic for bioethics. This is because processes of structural injustice not only have a negative impact on the health of marginalized groups of people, they also lead to disadvantages in access, availability and acceptability of healthcare services. Many questions in medical ethics are also closely related to issues of structural injustice, for example when discussing the reproductive rights of queer people, the relationship between coercion and structural racism, or ableism in the definition of wellbeing and quality of life.

The consideration of structural injustice poses major theoretical challenges. It requires an examination and refinement of existing concepts and principles of biomedical ethics, such as well-being or justice. So far, however, structural injustice and the health of marginalized social groups have not been addressed as core topics in bioethics. The DFG network “Bioethics and Structural Injustice” aims to change this.  Over a period of three years, the interdisciplinary network brings together researchers to develop bioethical approaches suitable for investigating structural injustice, taking it into account when dealing with ethical questions and tackling processes of structural injustice in practice.
 

Project Information

Funding: German Research Foundation (DFG)
Further information: https://netzwerk-bioethik.de/en/english/
Coordination: Dr. Regina Müller and Prof. Dr. Mirjam Faissner, M.A.
Project Duration: 2024-2027