Why Bioethics Matters | Robert Klitzman, M.D. | Talks@Columbia

Bioethics, the field that explores the ethical, legal, and social implications of advances in biotechnology and healthcare, is rapidly growing and evolving. Increasingly, we face critical challenges and dilemmas from engineering embryos and designing babies, to genetic testing, epidemics of SARS, Ebola, and Zika, possible over­medication of children, questions of when to turn off life support machines, and ongoing controversies about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. These are crucial questions that, whether as patients, family members, healthcare providers, taxpayers, or voters, affect us all. Talks@Columbia draw speakers from among the thousands of thought leaders and researchers that make up the diverse faculty community at Columbia University. Through brief, engaging multimedia presentations, these experts show how the idea that matters most to them can resonate with us all. Talks@Columbia provide fresh perspectives on the most important global topics today, persuasion to change how we think and act, and inspiration for us to help others and improve the world.