Center for Bioethics: Indiana University

Ethics for the future of health and medicine

Founded in 2001, the IU Center for Bioethics is a gathering place for discussion, education, research, and collaboration in bioethics and related fields. Based at the IU School of Medicine, faculty from schools across IU - Indianapolis lead these efforts, guiding healthcare providers and researchers in their work and helping society confront important questions about health, science, and technology.

Resources

The Center hosts talks, publishes a blog, and provides resources and consultations to researchers and others.

Research

Center faculty write and conduct research on bioethics, communication, policy, and other areas.

Education

Center faculty teach bioethics, responsible conduct of research, health law, medical humanities, and related topics.

Blog

Center faculty and staff write accessible short essays on various topics in bioethics, current events, and other various interests.

News from the Center

IHEART Collaborative Recognized by Indiana Business Journal

Friday, May 09, 2025

The iHEART Collaborative (Indianapolis Health Equity, Access, outReach and Treatment) was recently recognized by the Indiana Business Journal for the 2025 Excellence in Health Care Awards, honoring individuals or organizations in the central Indiana health care industry who are making a significant impact on the quality of health care in the Indianapolis metropolitan area.

Amber Comer Presents "Social Darwinism, Nazi Experiments, and the Birth of Modern Bioethics" for Annual Silvers' Lecture

Thursday, April 24, 2025

On Thursday, April 14, we hosted our Annual Silvers' Lecture on Holocaust, Genocide, and Contemporary Bioethics. Our speaker, Amber Comer, presented "Social Darwinism, Nazi Experiments, and the Birth of Modern Bioethics."

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IU Events

TREATs Talk: Nonhuman Vertebrate and Invertebrate Research Ethics

Thursday, June 19, 2025

12 p.m.—1 p.m.

Join the IU Center for Bioethics for their translational research ethics talk on nonhuman vertebrate and invertebrate research ethics!

Non-IU Events

Using AI for Research, Treatment and Prevention for HIV and Other Conditions: Ethical and Policy Challenges

Thursday, June 05, 2025, 9:30 a.m.—Thursday, June 05, 2025, 11 a.m.

Can AI transform the future of HIV research and care—without compromising ethics and equity? Join leading experts for a provocative panel exploring the promises and pitfalls of AI in public health, hosted by the HIV Center at Columbia University.

Ethics for Lunch: From Coma to Consciousness: Are We Worried? A Conversation with Joseph Fins, M.D., One of the Nation’s Leading Neuroethicists

Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 1 p.m.—Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 2:50 p.m.

Recent neuroimaging research reveals that many patients formerly thought to be unresponsive in coma and vegetative states are in fact conscious, raising many ethical and clinical questions. Please join us for a conversation with Dr. Fins about these fascinating and important challenges.

The Financialization of Health in the United States

Monday, June 30, 2025, 12 p.m.—Monday, June 30, 2025, 1 p.m.

This talk will explore the financialization of health care is transforming the U.S. health system as financial actors increasingly dictate priorities and practices, raising urgent questions about equity, accountability, and the future of public health.

To Suffer What We Can't Evade: What is Medicine’s Role in Responding to Suffering?

Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 12 p.m.—Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 1 p.m.

What does it mean to truly address suffering in medicine—and why does it matter so deeply? This webinar explores the overlooked history and ethics of suffering in American healthcare, offering new insights for clinicians and bioethicists seeking to navigate this profound human experience.

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