Vulnerabilities and Institutional Barriers in Clinical and Public Health Contexts

Authors

Elizabeth Victor, Grand Valley State UniversityFollow
Laura Guidry-Grimes

Department

Philosophy Department

College

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Date Range

2013-2014

Disciplines

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract

Identifying vulnerable persons and groups has moral and practical import in clinical and public health contexts. Vulnerable individuals are generally at the receiving end of historical and material injustices, and bioethical guidelines call for extra protections of vulnerable persons so as to protect them from exploitation, coercion, and additional harms. However, pinpointing a helpful notion of vulnerability that can be applied consistently and narrowly has proven difficult. Furthermore, there are concerns that the concept of vulnerability ultimately stereotypes groups and overlooks crucial distinctions among individuals that need to be taken into account.

Conference Name

Human Development: Vulnerability, Inclusion and Well-being

Conference Location

Managua, Nicaragua

ScholarWorks Citation

Victor, Elizabeth and Guidry-Grimes, Laura, "Vulnerabilities and Institutional Barriers in Clinical and Public Health Contexts" (2014). Faculty Scholarly Dissemination Grants. 715.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/fsdg/715