1. Bioethics Eastern
Perspective
Part 1

2. Bioethics

3. Bioethics
What is Bioethics?
Bioethics is human inquiry about:
• Boundaries of life like abortion to euthanasia
• Allocation of scarce resources like organ
donation
• Right to refuse care

4. Bioethics
Eastern Bioethics
Explore these inquiries from the perspective of
Eastern thought – specifically Jaina tradition and
compare Eastern and Western bioethics.
Topics such as:
• THEORY OF KARMA
• THEORY OF SOUL
• NONVIOLENCE AND NONABSOLUTISM

5. Bioethics
Measure of Effect on
Issue ethics practitioner Family Society Alternative method
Financial, relations Problems of
Violence in Develop frenzy for
and population Limited celibacy. Practice of
Birth control killing sex for pleasure or
other issues like explosion, rape, rhythm method
sperms trade
culture prostitution
Abortiona
Emotional, physical, Laxity in moral
(reasons: defective Violence in Self restraint. Accept results
desertion by spouse, values, Legal, medical,
foetus, girl child, killing the and improve lifestyle now
car of defective child economic burden, economic
unwanted, result of unborn onwards.
if born wellness. Cultural
rape etc)
Emotions, issues
Impact
Artificial conception Identity of related Child becomes a Avoid, explore
economically
• In-vitro fertilization new born, to identity, commodity. alternate methods like
poor members,
• Surrogate relation ownership, Impact on poor adoption, social service,
doctors greed and
motherhood issues Can be temporary women, keeping pets
character
solution
Who decides, Sallekhanā if no solution in
b Violence as Suffering, quality of Economic and
Death unfair doctor sight and the quality of life will
no-one life, economic an emotional
Assisted (euthanasia) practices, misuse greatly deteriorate after
wish to die, family impact on family
by others recovery
OK if other
Mal practices to Observe ethicospiritual
living Inferiority complex,
Economic and enhance body conduct. Maintain
Gene Therapy and beings are experience pain and
emotional impact features for sheer equanimity and lead a
Genetic Engineering not used debility to lead a
on family beauty or criminal normal a life as possible.
for normal life.
purposes. Undergo medical treatment
treatment
a. The rightness /wrongness of the act is dependent on state of the unborn and the person (mother) involved
b. The rightness /wrongness of the act are dependent on state of the dying person, family status, legal and medical issues of
unborn and the person (mother) involved.

6. Bioethics
Questions to address?
• When does life begin, and when does it end?
• When is the quality of life so compromised that
doctors should cease further interventions?
• What is informed consent?
• What constraints should apply to research on human
subjects?
• And, above all, how can the sanctity of life be
preserved?

7. Bioethics
What is Jainism ?
Jainism is one of the oldest religions originating from India.
At the very heart of Jainism is the ethic of non-violence,
Ahimsa , which means ‘Respect for all living beings.’
Ahimsa continues to guide the daily lives of all Jains, who are
vegetarians, and practice ecology and conservation.
Out of 14 million Jains in the world, 125,000 are settled
in North America.
Other tenets of Jainism are non-absolutism, which means
that real truth has multiple facets, and non-possessiveness,
which means that one should balance one’s needs and desires

8. Bioethics
Claremont International Jain Conference
Keynote Speakers for August 24-25 2012
• Dr. Cromwell Crawford (Univ. of Hawaii),
• Dr. Brian Cummings (Univ. of California),
• Dr. James Hughes (Trinity College, CT),
• D.K. Bobra, M.D.

9. Bioethics
Claremont International Jain Conference
Paper Presenters for August 24-25 2012
• Predrag Cicovack • Inderpal Kochar
• Brianne Donaldson • Seth Clark
• Jain, Subhash C • Whitney Braun
• Robert Hesse • Ram Agarwal
• Peteet, John Ray • Chris Chapple
• Surendra Pokharn • Shugan Jain

10. Bioethics
Conference Details
Plenary sessions take place in Mudd Auditorium, Claremont
Lincoln University, 1325 N. College Ave., Claremont, CA 91711
(on the campus of Claremont School of Theology).
There is an inexpensive registration fee and a discount for
students. Early registration at a reduced rate will close on July
15th.
All meals at the conference will be creative and tasty Jain
vegetarian/vegan fare.
Register Here

11. Bioethics
Travel and Hotel Information
AIRPORTS
Ontario International Airport (ONT) is 15 minutes from Claremont. Taxis are
available outside the baggage area (approx. $20-25 for a ride to campus) or you
can book a shuttle here.
Los Angeles International Airport is 50 miles from Claremont. During peak traffic
hours (7am-9am; 3pm-6pm), this can be a very lengthy ride. You can book a shuttle
here.
HOTELS
The conference hotel is the Claremont DoubleTree, 555 W. Foothill Blvd. in
Claremont; (909) 626-2411. You can make reservations (at a reduced rate) at the
Jain Conference Group Page. The DoubleTree Hotel is 0.5 miles from campus, or a
10-minute walk.
Other accommodations can be found at Hotel Claremont; (909) 621-4831 (3 miles
from campus) or Casa 425; (866) 450-0425 (in Claremont Village, 1.3 miles from
campus). There are also lodgings in nearby cities.

12. Bioethics
August 24th and 25th , 2012
Venue:
Claremont Lincoln University
Mudd Auditorium,
1325 N. College Avenue,
Claremont CA 91711
Co-Sponsored by:
Claremont Lincoln University, the International School for Jain Studies,
Jain Center of Southern California, and the Federation of Jain
Associations in North America (JAINA)