bioethics

The rapid advancement of genome editing technologies, particularly CRISPR-Cas9, has revolutionized biomedical science while raising unprecedented ethical and human rights concerns. This paper examines the implications of genetic engineering through a human rights lens, focusing on three critical challenges: threats to equality from potential genetic enhancement, consent paradoxes in germline editing, and emerging forms of genetic discrimination. Using an interdisciplinary methodology that integrates bioethics, political philosophy, and international law, supplemented by case studies like the He Jiankui affair and DIY biohacking movement, the study reveals how current governance frameworks remain inadequate against these challenges. Key findings demonstrate that unequal access to genetic technologies risks creating "genetic privilege" and new forms of biological stratification, while germline interventions pose unresolved intergenerational justice issues. Furthermore, existing protections like GINA fail to address contemporary genetic privacy risks in direct-to-consumer testing and data commercialization. The paper proposes a tripartite governance model combining international cooperation (through WHO/UNESCO frameworks and a global registry), adaptive national policies (including regulatory sandboxes), and strengthened institutional oversight (with mandatory ethics training). These recommendations aim to balance scientific innovation with ethical safeguards, preventing genetic technologies from becoming tools of inequality while harnessing their therapeutic potential. The conclusion emphasizes the need for ongoing monitoring of social impacts and development of culturally sensitive implementation strategies, as the genomic revolution continues to challenge fundamental notions of human dignity, equality, and self-determination in the 21st century.

Introduction: The objective is to examine the conceptual structure of research related to medical ethics and bioethics in the Web of Science database and to identify the sub-domains and important dimensions of these concepts. Material and Methods: This research is conducted using bibliometric techniques and co-occurrence analysis of keywords. To identify trends in medical ethics and bioethics research (1974–2024), 10,761 documents were examined. Cluster analysis and a strategic diagram were used to depict the conceptual structure of the research. Conclusion: Nine clusters in medical ethics and bioethics were identified: 1) Moral values, 2) Philosophy of bioethics, 3) Ethics and human dignity, 4) Medical ethics and education, 5) Bioethics and human rights, 6) Clinical ethics, 7) Ethics and bioethics committee research, 8) Research ethics, 9) Principles of bioethics in Islam. Additionally, by analyzing the content of the articles, emerging topics, subject areas, and prominent publications in medical ethics and bioethics were identified. The results will help researchers gain a comprehensive understanding of the concepts of medical ethics and bioethics and identify potential areas for future research.