“Cross-cultural bioethics” is becoming not only something of a buzzword but an entire sub-discipline in the area of contemporary bioethics. Globalisation and the increasingly multi-cultural nature of the modern state result in ethically pluralistic societies in which there is a growing awareness of and interest in alternative modes of ethical thought, as well as heightened potential for conflict between them. Consequently, scholars of bioethics are now beginning to recognise the importance of understanding, analysing and applying ethical principles derived from a variety of cultures. One particular distinction often emphasised in this regard is the divide between so-called Western and Eastern bioethics.
