Volume 29, Issue 1, Spring/Summer 2009
Richard O. Randolph
Pages 153-170
Human Health and Environmental Health Are Interdependent
Removing an Unnatural Partition within Christian Bioethics
Although the term "Bioethics" literally means "Life Ethics," there is a frequent differentiation of Christian bioethicists into those focusing on medical issues versus those focusing on environmental issues. Yet, many challenges to human and environmental health are interdependent, suggesting the need for greater collaboration. After exploring the historical trajectories that have led to these two distinct foci in Christian ethics, this essay will argue for a greater collaboration between the two specializations and make some suggestions concerning how collaboration may be facilitated. As an illustration of this thesis, I examine avian influenza as a case study.