The Logic and Legitimacy of American Bioethics
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The Logic and Legitimacy of American Bioethics By Mary R. Leinho ...

Chapter 1:  Introduction
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My intent is to provide a better understanding of the nature of bioethics’ impact on scientific and medical practice, and the factors that influence that impact, and, in doing so, to provide clues about how to better pursue the goals of bioethics. The investigation proceeds at three loci of analysis:

  • How are the legitimacy and logic of bioethics coproduced in relation to the environmental conditions under which academic bioethics units are created and sustained? How do the conditions of institutionalization shape the approach and subject matter of emerging disciplines? This question is particularly important for fields such as bioethics, ethnic studies, women’s studies, and environmental studies, which grew out of social movements in the 1960s and 1970s (Allen, 1996; Butler & Walter, 1991; Rycroft, 1991; Slaughter, 1997). Would-be disciplines must demonstrate their legitimacy among relevant constituencies, including the existing academy, to acquire the resources necessary for their establishment. Boundary work is an important part of establishing such legitimacy, and involves both staking out a new intellectual homestead and forging diplomatic relations with supporting constituencies (Abbott, 1988; Gieryn, 1999).
  • How are the legitimacy and accountable expertise of bioethics jointly constructed in juristic discourse? In spite of popular interest in bioethics and the growth of bioethics programs and publications, the job market for full-time bioethicists has been limited, reflecting the immaturity of the profession. The field lacks a clear set of skills or expertise with which to identify a bona fide bioethicist (Russo, 1999; Shalit, 1997). While powerful professions can achieve formal and legal authority over their jurisdictions through state licensure, the expertise of emerging professional groups can be legitimated through other means in the legal arena. In an increasingly litigious society, professional groups are often held accountable for useful expertise via tort claims.
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