Bioethics and Biosafety — Definition

Definition

Bioethics examines the responsibilities associated with biological and health research, including respect for persons, fairness, welfare and the sharing of benefits and burdens. Biosafety concerns preventing and managing harm arising from biological work, including risks to people and the environment.

The two overlap but answer different questions. Consent and independent ethics review address participant protections; risk assessment and appropriate containment address biological hazards. A project may require more than one form of oversight.

Neither a worthwhile purpose nor one approval automatically establishes that every ethical, legal and safety requirement has been met.