The next session of the bioethics journal club will take place from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM (Eastern Time) on Friday, October 27th, in room 3014-7 at the School of Public Health of the University of Montreal (ESPUM). The discussion will focus on the article ‘The Bioethics of Environmental Injustice: Ethical, Legal, and Clinical Implications of Unhealthy Environments,’ by Keisha Ray & Jane Fallis Cooper.

You can also participate remotely via this Zoom link.

The journal club discussions are open to all individuals interested in bioethics and in the topic of the featured target article.

Abstract

Environmental health remains a niche topic in bioethics, despite being a prominent social determinant of health. In this paper we argue that if bioethicists are to take the project of health justice as a serious one, then we have to address environmental injustices and the threats they pose to our bioethics principles, health equity, and clinical care. To do this, we lay out three arguments supporting prioritizing environmental health in bioethics based on bioethics principles including a commitment to vulnerable populations and justice. We also highlight and advocate for environmental law efforts that align with these priorities, focusing specifically on the need for a right to a healthy environment. Our intention is to draw attention to the legal and ethical concepts that underlie the importance of a healthy environment, and urge bioethicists to prioritize both legal and ethical advocacy against environmental injustices in their practice.