Team:NUS Singapore-Sci/Cas Writes
Drawing upon interesting points of discussion generated from #CasAsks, we aim to further explore the relevant ethical and philosophical topics. We also did a literature review of the existing guidelines governing the use, research and distribution of genetic engineering, as well as frameworks that are in place to mitigate possible risks in Singapore. This literature review (link to collaboration page) has been adapted into a comparative case study, done in a collaboration with the 2018 École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne iGEM team, which aims to point out similarities and differences between Switzerland’s and Singapore’s ethics framework.
Firstly, we discuss extensively about the public’s opinion on the need for public engagement in navigating ethics. An extension exploring the sociology of scientific knowledge and ignorance is also included. Next, we explore the system of ethics adopted by governments to develop guidelines or legislation - principlism. Anchored by the concepts of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice, this system is widely prescripted by moral decision-makers. Also, we dissect the ethics of genetic engineering using a principle-based ethics vs consequence-based ethics. This will serve to explore guiding principles in bioethics. Lastly, we share the literature review we did about Singapore’s bioethics guidelines, to provide a framework to wrap up the theoretical ethical approaches for genetic engineering.
Firstly, we discuss extensively about the public’s opinion on the need for public engagement in navigating ethics. An extension exploring the sociology of scientific knowledge and ignorance is also included. Next, we explore the system of ethics adopted by governments to develop guidelines or legislation - principlism. Anchored by the concepts of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice, this system is widely prescripted by moral decision-makers. Also, we dissect the ethics of genetic engineering using a principle-based ethics vs consequence-based ethics. This will serve to explore guiding principles in bioethics. Lastly, we share the literature review we did about Singapore’s bioethics guidelines, to provide a framework to wrap up the theoretical ethical approaches for genetic engineering.
Discussion: Public Opinions on the Need for Public Engagement
In #CasAsks, 95% of our respondents feel the need for public engagement to navigate the direction of scientific research. In this post, we will discuss the possible reasons behind some of these opinions and review relevant ethical guidelines in Singapore.
