AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS

Scope & Guideline

Empowering scholars to influence ethical policymaking.

Introduction

Welcome to the AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS information hub, where our guidelines provide a wealth of knowledge about the journal’s focus and academic contributions. This page includes an extensive look at the aims and scope of AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS, highlighting trending and emerging areas of study. We also examine declining topics to offer insight into academic interest shifts. Our curated list of highly cited topics and recent publications is part of our effort to guide scholars, using these guidelines to stay ahead in their research endeavors.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN1526-5161
PublisherROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited Kingdom
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 2001 to 2024
AbbreviationAM J BIOETHICS / Am. J. Bioeth.
Frequency12 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
Address2-4 PARK SQUARE, MILTON PARK, ABINGDON OX14 4RN, OXON, ENGLAND

Aims and Scopes

The American Journal of Bioethics is dedicated to exploring the ethical dimensions of health care and biomedical practices, with a strong emphasis on contemporary societal issues. The journal serves as a platform for rigorous debate and discussion regarding the ethical implications of emerging technologies, health disparities, and the intersectionality of race, gender, and disability in bioethics.
  1. Ethical Implications of Emerging Technologies:
    The journal extensively covers the ethical challenges posed by new technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and gene editing, focusing on how these innovations affect patient care and ethical standards in medical practice.
  2. Health Equity and Social Justice:
    A significant focus is placed on issues of health equity and social justice, particularly how systemic racism and social determinants impact healthcare access and outcomes for marginalized populations.
  3. Patient Autonomy and Informed Consent:
    The journal emphasizes the importance of patient autonomy, informed consent, and the ethical considerations surrounding decision-making capacity, especially in vulnerable populations.
  4. Interdisciplinary Approaches:
    The journal encourages interdisciplinary dialogue, integrating perspectives from philosophy, law, public health, and social sciences to enrich the discourse on bioethical issues.
  5. Crisis and Emergency Ethics:
    The journal addresses ethical challenges during public health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on resource allocation, triage, and the ethical implications of emergency measures.
The American Journal of Bioethics has evolved to address pressing contemporary issues, reflecting the dynamic nature of bioethical discourse. Recent publications highlight several emerging trends that are shaping the future of bioethics.
  1. Intersectionality and Health Disparities:
    A growing trend is the emphasis on intersectionality, exploring how multiple identities (e.g., race, gender, disability) intersect to create unique health disparities and ethical challenges in healthcare.
  2. Environmental Justice in Bioethics:
    There is an emerging focus on environmental justice and its implications for health equity, particularly how environmental factors contribute to health disparities and ethical considerations in public health.
  3. Technology and Data Ethics:
    The journal increasingly addresses the ethical implications of data use in healthcare, including privacy concerns, algorithmic bias, and the ethical responsibilities of researchers and practitioners in managing patient data.
  4. Community Engagement and Participatory Ethics:
    Emerging themes include community engagement and participatory ethics, where the voices of marginalized communities are prioritized in ethical discussions and decision-making processes.
  5. Global Health Ethics:
    An increasing number of publications are dedicated to global health ethics, addressing ethical dilemmas in international health contexts and the responsibilities of global actors in promoting health equity.

Declining or Waning

While the American Journal of Bioethics has consistently addressed a wide range of bioethical issues, certain themes have seen a decline in prominence in recent years, reflecting shifts in societal concerns and the evolving landscape of bioethics.
  1. Traditional Medical Ethics Frameworks:
    There appears to be a waning focus on classical medical ethics frameworks, such as principlism (autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice), as discussions increasingly center around contextual and relational ethics that address the complexities of real-world situations.
  2. Philosophical Debates on Personhood:
    The exploration of personhood and its implications in bioethics has diminished, with more emphasis now placed on practical applications and the lived experiences of individuals rather than theoretical philosophical debates.
  3. Individualistic Approaches to Ethics:
    The journal has seen a decline in articles promoting strictly individualistic approaches to bioethics, with a shift towards collective and community-oriented perspectives that consider broader societal impacts.

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