Hi everyone! Welcome to The Neighborhood Bioethicist. If you aren’t just reading out of sheer support for my hopes and dreams, I’m sure you are wondering 1) what is bioethics and 2) what is the point of this blog?

Bioethics is literally what it says – the ethics of biology. It covers topics of autonomy, beneficence, justice, nonmaleficence, history, and moral philosophy. This is all a fancy way of saying that bioethics makes sure that you are treated with respect and justice. When it comes to healthcare, bioethics makes sure that you can do what you want with your body, be informed every step of the way, and ultimately live a more healthy life. And you should have access to that – because good health is a game changer.

Ten percent of me created this blog because I am tired of responding to the classic – “You have a Masters in WHET. What does bioethics even mean?.”  All jokes aside, I mainly created this blog because I am passionate about having candid conversations about life, bioethics, and health. How do I encounter bioethics on a day to day basis? What does good health look like? Why do I view healthcare this way? So part of content of this blog will be general bioethics information and commentary. We will chat about bioethics in every day life. Bioethical issues on TV, in the news, or on social media are up for discussion. However, part of this content will also talk about health and healthcare in general. As a person of color, it is even more critical that we have more candid conversations about life and health. The reality is that the historical relationship that people of color have with healthcare has been more than rocky. That means that we have more fear in our communities of the healthcare system, less information about the said system, and a lowered chance of finding good health.

Navigating healthcare and bioethics isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be insurmountable. At the end of the day, all of us are trying to get well. At some point, we won’t just be responsible for our own wellness – but also the wellness of others. And if we want to get well, we gotta be willing to talk about what “getting well” means.

That’s what The Neighborhood Bioethicist is about. Sitting on your front steps and just having a good talk with your neighbor, friend, or family member is informative and healing. Real conversation builds bridges and life is too short to be uninformed. So let’s sit on the steps and talk.

Come chat with me,

The Neighborhood Bioethicist