Systematic reviews in bioethics: types, challenges, and value

The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy
Rosalind McDougall

Abstract

There has recently been interest in applying the techniques of systematic review to bioethics literature. In this paper, I identify the three models of systematic review proposed to date in bioethics: systematic reviews of empirical bioethics research, systematic reviews of normative bioethics literature, and systematic reviews of reasons. I argue that all three types yield information useful to scholarship in bioethics, yet they also face significant challenges particularly in relation to terminology and time. Drawing on my recent experience conducting a systematic review, I suggest that complete comprehensiveness may not always be an appropriate goal of a literature review in bioethics, depending on the research question. In some cases, all the relevant ideas may be captured without capturing all the relevant literature. I conclude that systematic reviews in bioethics have an important role to play alongside the traditional broadbrush approach to reviewing literature in bioethics.

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Citations

Jul 4, 2015·Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics·Alma LinkeviciuteGiovanni Boniolo
Apr 18, 2015·BMC Medical Ethics·Rachel DaviesMichael Dunn
Jul 8, 2016·Journal of General Internal Medicine·James H FloryZachary I Goodman
Dec 6, 2016·International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care·Anna Mae ScottLars Sandman
Jan 11, 2014·The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy·Laurence B McCullough
Dec 17, 2014·Nursing Ethics·Joan McCarthy, Chris Gastmans
Jun 23, 2016·Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics : JERHRE·Lila KarpowiczEric Racine
Mar 14, 2018·Journal of Bioethical Inquiry·Gwendolien VanderschaegheRik Vandenberghe
Jun 3, 2017·European Journal of Pediatrics·Giulia Cuman, Chris Gastmans
May 16, 2018·Human Reproduction Update·E M KoolA L Bredenoord
Jan 16, 2019·Health Research Policy and Systems·Mireya Martínez-GarcíaJorge Alberto Álvarez-Díaz
May 9, 2021·Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics·Jared Howes, Chris Gastmans

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