Basic principles of bioethics and orthodox ethics

The galloping progress in genetic and medical technology has led to the birth of the new science of bioethics. Bioethics examines the ethical dimension of problems arising from the application of the discoveries in the fields of biology and genetics and the effects they may have on nature and people in particular, from the aspect of anthropological teaching of the church Fathers. Aim: The aim of this article is: a) the delimitation of the scientific field of bioethics and its historical background, b) the emergence of the principles of the science of bioethics, c) the determination of the principles of orthodox morality though which the issues arising from the application of genetic engineering in human are faced. Material and Method: The method used to collect material for the writing of this article “principles of bioethics and orthodox morality”, was the widespread review of international and Greek bibliography. For the collection of the English bibliography the electronic database CINAHL was used. The keywords used in combination were Bioethics orthodox ethics. Results: The basic principle of bioethics are: a) the principle of autonomy, b) the principle of equivalence, c) the principle of not causing harm and pain, d) the principle of utility or beneficence, e) the principle of justice. The orthodox approach to the issues arising from the application of genetics human is based on the Orthodox anthropology, as expressed in the Bible and the texts of the Fathers of the Church. The centerpieces of the Biblical and Patristic anthropology are: a) that man was created as the exact replica of the Triune God and b) that man is a single psychosomatic entity.

Keywords: Bioethics, orthodox ethics