Institute of Advanced Studies

Professor-at-Large Dr Eric M. Meslin is interviewed by Milka Bukilic

I’d like to start by asking you about your career trajectory traversing from philosophy to bioethics. Despite the obvious link between philosophy and bioethics, I’d be interested to know how the leap from philosophy to health research came about?

It wasn’t as a much a leap as a series of opportunities. I began my academic career as an undergraduate student in political science, thinking I’d go in to law (like my mother) but during an elective class on ‘moral problems in medicine’ I discovered a whole world of issues in law, ethics, medicine and science. I finished my BA in philosophy and then found that I could pursue bioethics by taking an MA and PhD in philosophy specialising in bioethics. It was a perfect match.

We’ve all heard of Bioethics, is there a simple definition to it?

The simplest (and most accurate) definition is that bioethics is the study of ethical issues in medicine, health care and the life sciences.

It seems that in your upcoming lecture you plan to take the bioethics discussion outside of the scientific paradigm. Without revealing too much of your lecture, could you briefly explain the importance of including areas as diverse as trade and foreign policy and the environment into the bioethics discussion?

The early days of bioethics focused mostly on the issues that arose for patients and physicians in hospitals, as well as issues facing researchers carrying out medical studies on human subjects. These issues remain very important but it has become apparent that many factors influence the way society thinks about and acts on these many issues. Just to give one example – when one country (say the United States) decides to carry out research in another country, like Kenya, the ethical issues that arise extend beyond topics like informed consent: they also invoke questions about the rationale for going to another country to carry out activities there, whether there will be economic benefits that flow from one country to another, and what obligations are created by these kinds of bilateral relationships. For more examples, come to the lecture!

One of your many interests includes organ procurement. This time last year it was reported that the number of organs donated in Australia had fallen, with fears that it could fall even further. What can be done to help boost future donations and why is it important to bring this message across to people?

There is no simple answer to this question, because if we knew it we’d be doing it. But there really is no replacement for education and public awareness programs. It always surprises me that people still don’t know about organ donation and its benefits to save lives. The reality though is that education campaigns cost money and need to be sustained over time. Maybe it’s time to start introducing discussion of organ transplantation earlier in our schools' curricula – perhaps as part of the science programs. That way children will not think twice about signing their donor cards when they reach the legal age to do so.

Dr Eric M. Meslin will deliver a free public lecture entitled, The Ethics of Science Policy in the Post-Genomic World: Broadening the Discussion, at UWA’s Alexander Lecture Theatre, on 12 May 2009 at 6pm. All welcome.