Cross-Cultural and Religious Critiques of Informed Consent

This book explores the challenges of informed consent in medical intervention and research ethics, considering the global reality of multiculturalism and religious diversity. Even though informed consent is a gold standard in research ethics, its theoretical foundation is based on the conception of individual subjects making autonomous decisions. There is a need to reconsider autonomy as relational―where family members, community and religious leaders can play an important part in the consent process. The volume re-evaluates informed consent in multicultural contexts and features perspectives from Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism and Islam. It is valuable reading for scholars interested in bioethics, healthcare ethics, research ethics, comparative religions, theology, human rights, law and sociology.

Joseph Tham is Full Professor in the School of Bioethics at Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum in Rome, Italy.

Alberto García Gómez is Chairholder, UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights, and Professor in the School of Bioethics at Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum in Rome, Italy.

Mirko Daniel Garasic is a researcher at LUMSA University and Adjunct Professor of Bioethics at LUISS University in Rome, Italy.