Bioethics, Globalization, and Politics

Bioethics has evolved from a non-institutional, ideal, and a historical model toward a more political, institutional, and historically anchored one. This change is healthy and has, in part, been a product of the devastating consequences of globalization. I illustrate the distinct moments in the evolution of bioethics with an analysis of three discussions within the discipline: the debate on autonomy and the right to health (points 1 and 2) and some of the issues raised by biotechnology (point 3), especially by the patenting of genetic material.