The Ethics of Voluntary Assisted Dying: Promoting Constructive Debate. This project aims to analyze core concepts that play key roles in emerging debates about the ethics of Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) in Australia. The project expects to make constructive contributions to these debates, promoting respectful dialogue and reducing polarization. Expected outcomes include a new model for managing VAD in Australia which is ethically appropriate and consistent with community values. This model wil ....The Ethics of Voluntary Assisted Dying: Promoting Constructive Debate. This project aims to analyze core concepts that play key roles in emerging debates about the ethics of Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) in Australia. The project expects to make constructive contributions to these debates, promoting respectful dialogue and reducing polarization. Expected outcomes include a new model for managing VAD in Australia which is ethically appropriate and consistent with community values. This model will also benefit other countries where the ethics of VAD is under consideration. The project will promote the dignity and autonomy of all and ensure that issues about the conscientious refusal of healthcare professionals to participate in the provision of VAD are handled in an ethically appropriate and effective manner.Read moreRead less
Addiction, moral identity and moral agency: Integrating theoretical and empirical approaches. By clarifying and evaluating scientific claims about the moral impacts of addiction on the judgment and practices of drug addicted persons and by investigating the perspectives of users and treatment professionals, our project will contribute to the development of ethical and effective public policy, treatment and education programs in the addictions area, thus helping to address the causes and reduce t ....Addiction, moral identity and moral agency: Integrating theoretical and empirical approaches. By clarifying and evaluating scientific claims about the moral impacts of addiction on the judgment and practices of drug addicted persons and by investigating the perspectives of users and treatment professionals, our project will contribute to the development of ethical and effective public policy, treatment and education programs in the addictions area, thus helping to address the causes and reduce the impact of biological, social and environmental factors which diminish life potential in drug addicted persons. The innovative features of this project will enhance Australia's international reputation in bioethics and moral psychology, extend the reach of experimental philosophy, and facilitate future interdisciplinary work.Read moreRead less
Knowledge and attitudes about life extension technology: public and stakeholder perspectives. This comprehensive investigation will contribute new knowledge that will help Australians to better cope with the social and economic consequences of an ageing population. New developments in the biosciences promise the possibility of extending human life past 120 years. This study will assist government, healthcare providers and researchers to understand the public reaction to such developments and en ....Knowledge and attitudes about life extension technology: public and stakeholder perspectives. This comprehensive investigation will contribute new knowledge that will help Australians to better cope with the social and economic consequences of an ageing population. New developments in the biosciences promise the possibility of extending human life past 120 years. This study will assist government, healthcare providers and researchers to understand the public reaction to such developments and enable them to plan for the future. The study will contribute to future strategic research and train a future researcher in the priority health goal of ageing well, ageing productively.Read moreRead less
Support or sales? Medical device representatives in Australian hospitals. Medical device representatives provide crucial support to clinicians using complex medical equipment. However, their obligation to maximise sales conflicts with their support role. Increasing uptake of devices potentially impacts patient safety and healthcare costs, making it important to understand the involvement and influence of device representatives. The proposed research will investigate the ethical and legal impacts ....Support or sales? Medical device representatives in Australian hospitals. Medical device representatives provide crucial support to clinicians using complex medical equipment. However, their obligation to maximise sales conflicts with their support role. Increasing uptake of devices potentially impacts patient safety and healthcare costs, making it important to understand the involvement and influence of device representatives. The proposed research will investigate the ethical and legal impacts of device representatives in Australian hospitals, leading to new knowledge and innovative ethical and legal analyses of their activities. Benefits include a policy framework, new standards for managing device representatives’ interactions, and clarity about ethical and legal obligations of clinicians and institutions.Read moreRead less
Reducing the harms associated with conscientious objection to abortion. This project aims to critically evaluate the regulation of conscientious objection to abortion. A range of state-based laws regulate this practice in Australia, and there is evidence that all result in inequitable access, harms to women and lack clarity for providers. The project will critically evaluate the legal and regulatory options for managing conscientious objection and interview conscientious objectors to develop a c ....Reducing the harms associated with conscientious objection to abortion. This project aims to critically evaluate the regulation of conscientious objection to abortion. A range of state-based laws regulate this practice in Australia, and there is evidence that all result in inequitable access, harms to women and lack clarity for providers. The project will critically evaluate the legal and regulatory options for managing conscientious objection and interview conscientious objectors to develop a conceptual model to explain their practices. A participatory process with experts will identify the optimal model for regulation and how to translate the model to practice. Expected outcomes are world first evidence on practice, progress towards effective regulation, and benefits will be reduced conflict and harms.Read moreRead less
The ethics of international intervention for humanitarian, pro-democratic and anti-terrorist reasons: The legal, ethical and institutional means of regulating interventions. Interventions are increasingly demanded for humanitarian, pro-democratic and anti-terrorist reasons. Changed geo-politics and the waning sovereignty of many states increase their likelihood. Using ethical, legal and institutional analysis informed by interdisciplinary case studies, this project brings together those workin ....The ethics of international intervention for humanitarian, pro-democratic and anti-terrorist reasons: The legal, ethical and institutional means of regulating interventions. Interventions are increasingly demanded for humanitarian, pro-democratic and anti-terrorist reasons. Changed geo-politics and the waning sovereignty of many states increase their likelihood. Using ethical, legal and institutional analysis informed by interdisciplinary case studies, this project brings together those working on these separate areas - the US Council on Foreign Relations and its International Task Force on Threats to Democracy, three Canadian Research Centres and the Key Centre (drawing on its work and those of other Australians). The aim is to provide potential answers to when, whether, how and by whom interventions should occur and the institutional means for regulating such interventions.Read moreRead less
Dementia, moral agency and identity. The project aims to examine the ethical issues raised by dementia and the care of those with the condition. The project will examine and evaluate the capacities those with dementia retain for social agency, valuing and relationships. The project will test and refine theories of agency, identity and vulnerability in the light of the cognitive deficits accompanying dementia. The project will lead to the delivery of more efficient healthcare through the developm ....Dementia, moral agency and identity. The project aims to examine the ethical issues raised by dementia and the care of those with the condition. The project will examine and evaluate the capacities those with dementia retain for social agency, valuing and relationships. The project will test and refine theories of agency, identity and vulnerability in the light of the cognitive deficits accompanying dementia. The project will lead to the delivery of more efficient healthcare through the development of increased understandings of the relevant ethical considerations for treatment, and recommendations for new and ethical approaches to policy on dementia. It brings benefits to the well-being and relationships of those with this condition, their families and friends, and the professionals who care for them.Read moreRead less