Episode 57 - Medical Ethics

Today, Debbie throws us all back into the Philosophy Ravine together to discuss medical ethics. We’re going to talk about what it is and use the framework of Medical Ethics to consider two case studies - the Minnesota Starvation Experiments and Covid-19 Challenge Studies. Content Warning - this podcast does discuss WW2, and experiments where patients chose to restrict their access to food. 

Remember, you can get in touch with us via clinical.research.intro@gmail.com. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie squirm!

Credit to our friend Sam Winnie for their awesome and cute music. Check out their work at https://www.samwinnie.com/

References - 

https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4258#:~:text=In%20the%20current%20pandemic%2C%20over%2038%20000,a%20non%2Dprofit%20organisation%20advocating%20for%20these%20volunteers

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56097088#:~:text=Getty%20Images,more%20than%2015%20million%20people. 

https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/revisionist-history/the-rise-of-the-guinea-pigs 

https://thispodcastwillkillyou.com/2025/10/14/episode-190-starvation-more-than-hunger/ 

Firsthand: The Minnesota semi-starvation experiment, University Publications, Archives & Special Collections, Colorado State University https://hdl.handle.net/10217/02.0036381