ABSTRACT
Most of the histories of bioethics focus on organizational developments, “great men,” clinical—technologically driven issues, and federal legal developments. Social movements are mentioned only in passing, and even then, as having influence upon medicine, not bioethics. There is no need to duplicate historical ground that is already ably addressed elsewhere in various histories of bioethics. Instead, this chapter examines some of the social movements that formed the context of the emergent bioethics, such as the consumerist movement, the consolidation of medical sovereignty, whistleblowing, and the Technological Society. These movements have, in varying ways, influenced the shape of bioethics’ development and content, more specifically the issues and questions bioethics chooses to address. Some of these movements have roots in the 1800s but reach an apex at the time that bioethics is born. Others are located within the period of the development of bioethics. The movements discussed do interact, some intertwine, some stand alone; however, all affect various aspects of the field of bioethics.
