Editorial


Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics 2013; 4(2)

Editorial

According to Socrates, knowledge is virtue. But mere knowledge of ethical principle is 
not sufficient to bring people in the road to virtue. Training on practical ethics is more 
effective in producing good conduct. Casuistry or the applied ethics is a discipline to 
apply valid standards to particular concrete cases. Keeping this idea in mind Bangladesh 
Bioethics Society organized a workshop on road safety to raise awareness of the truck 
and  bus  drivers.  Because,  everyday  reckless  driving  take  a  heavy  tolls  of  life  in 
Bangladesh. Most of the bus and truck drivers do not follows the trafic rules. It is also 
necessary to handle drug addiction problem. It has been posing a serious threat to our 
youths  and their  families  as  well  as  the  whole society.  BBS can organize  awareness 
programme for the youth to combat the menace of drug addiction. It is one of the major 
cause of social disorganization.

Five articles  have been published in this  issue.  Article  on Bioethics  and Patient  Law 
U.S.A.,  U.K.  and India  raises  discussion  on the ethical  questions  of  Bioethics  which 
include  relationship  among  life  science,  biotechnology,  medicines,  politics,  law  and 
philosophy. In order to conduct research on bioethics we need a searchable consolidated 
database.  The  article  under  the  title  ‘Pease,  Conflict  and  Resolution  (Good  vs  Evil) 
rightly identifies the colossal structural injustice and inequalities rooted in the global , 
social and political economy. The philosophy of Confucianism and Taoism is highlighted 
based on two basic propositions that  man’s original nature is good. Secondly the evil 
nature of the man in the by-product of external environment. Ensuring justice, dignity 
and human rights and philosophical leadership and eradication of poverty and corruptions 
establish peace in the world.

Article  on Islamic perception medication with special  reference to ordinary and extra 
ordinary means of medical treatment. It deals with medication, bioethics, extraordinary 
medical treatment and medical ethics.  Article under the title “Research Involving Human 
Subjects – Ethical Perspective is discuss that research involving human subject should be 
justifiable  and  minimal  risky  for  the  participant.  Ethical  perspective  should  be 
emphasized. “The Epistemological Import of Informed Consent in Clinical Research” is 
an  attempt  to  establish  the  epistemological  import  and  limits  of  informed  consent  in 
clinical research.

One  quest  for  a  moral  life  in  the  society  will  continue.  We  shall  evaluate  human 
achievement in the light of eternal value of truth, beauty and goodness. Bioethics will be 
all pervasive.

Rowshan Ara
Professor 
Department of Philosophy
University of Dhaka