Ethics of the life sciences at a crossroads?

In the biological sciences, studies using animal models and human embryonic stem cells are currently the subjects of controversy in the bioethics. Eac h of these controversies supports the idea that the foundations or basic as sumptions of life-science ethics or bioethics need to be reexamined. Here, we focus on the assumption that bioethics should bypass discussions of foun dations and rather seek to achieve consensus on practical ethical issues in the life sciences. We propose that practical ethics will have to be integr ated into a developing ethics for complex if bioethics is to survive as an effective social institution.