What is bioethics?

Bioethics is the relationship between biological science and research and whether the procedures and outcomes of that science are morally just towards those that the science is affecting. Who decides what is ethical is entirely situational which is why I think the UNESCO: Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights is a very good guideline because it provides a universal set of ideas on how to approach matters in regards to bioethics without placing excessive restrictions on the situations. This is important because bioethics is completely situational and constantly changing based on newly developed procedures and technology and therefore placing too many restrictions within a guideline like this could potentially do more harm than good. This may even be what the writers of this document had in mind when they wrote it because emphasis is placed on it being a guide in Article 2a where is says “to provide a universal framework of principles and procedures to guide States in the formulation of their legislation, policies, or other instruments in the field of bioethics,” as well as in Article 2b where it is stated that the declarations aim is “to guide the actions of individuals, groups, communities, institutions and corporations, public and private.” The declaration also states that it is “to safeguard  and promote the interests of the present and future generations,” showing that they have brought into consideration that bioethics is a developing field.