Greenwall-funded Special Report Calls on Bioethics to Lead the Charge Against Racial Injustice and Health Inequities

“[B]ioethics has a moral obligation to address the long-standing challenges that racism has posed to the overall health and well-being of Black, Indigenous, and Latinx people and other people of color,” write editors  Faith E. Fletcher, PhD, Keisha S. Ray, PhD, Virginia A. Brown, PhD, and Patrick T. Smith, PhD, in a Special Report from The Hastings Center. The report, Addressing Anti-Black Racism in Bioethics: Responding to the Call, is supported by a special grant from The Greenwall Foundation, and “underscore[s] the urgency for reimagining a braver, bolder, and broader bioethics that prioritizes social justice.”

The articles, essays, and commentaries in the Special Report center Black voices and perspectives in bioethics, and aim to create an agenda for the field to address anti-Black racism. The multi-authored report poses “considerations for transforming 1) bioethics scholarship and education, 2) health care and medical education, and 3) health equity research to address structural and systemic forces that perpetuate social injustice.” It includes work from Faculty Scholar Jennifer James, PhD, and Faculty Scholar Alum Charmaine D.M. Royal, PhD.

“The authors of this special report highlight the critical role bioethics must play in efforts to address anti-Black racism. We’re proud to support and amplify their work as they equip and inspire the field to move forward thoughtfully and purposefully,” said Foundation President & CEO, Michelle Groman,  JD.

 The editors of the Special Report will join Michele Goodwin, Chancellor’s Professor and Director, Center for Biotechnology & Global Health Policy, University of California, Irvine School of Law and The Hastings Center for a virtual discussion on June 9, at 2:00 pm ET.

The virtual event is free and registration is open to all.