Abstract

Current bioethical principles fall short on addressing the ethical and/or moral permissibility of bioethical practices such as biomedical procedures, clinical research, social science research and other practices of the same nature. Bioethical principles of autonomy, justice, informed consent, beneficence and nonmaleficence and others are pseudo-justification of ethical codes that allow ethical permissibility of such practices through the limit-situation imposed by agents of power and knowledge. The vertical nature of power and knowledge predisposes other agents such as low socioeconomic status patients/subjects to other forms of ethically and morally impermissible practices that these current guideline fail to acknowledge and answer. The issue of colonisation, with implication on this power and knowledge hierarchy, gives light to the oppressive nature of the different bioethical practices. The understanding and acknowledgment of the existence of the oppressive nature of these practices may lead to more genuine relationship between the wielder of power and knowledge and of the vulnerable agent. This research shows the importance of the application of other philosophical theories such as postcolonial theory and critical theory in the development of a more socially aware agent, and how the current principles anchored on Western philosophies adhere to reactive formulation and implementation of these principles.