Life
Definition
The state that distinguishes organisms from inorganic matter, manifested by growth, metabolism, reproduction, and adaptation. It includes the course of existence, the sum of experiences, the mode of existing, or the fact of being. Over the centuries inquiries into the nature of life have crossed the boundaries from philosophy to biology, forensic medicine, anthropology, etc., in creative as well as scientific literature. (Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed; Dr. James H. Cassedy, NLM History of Medicine Division)
MeSH classification
- K01.752.400
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Beginning of Human Life
The point at which religious ensoulment or PERSONHOOD is considered to begin.
Beneficence
The state or quality of being kind, charitable, or beneficial. (from American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th ed). The ethi…
Bioethical Issues
Clusters of topics that fall within the domain of BIOETHICS, the field of study concerned with value questions that arise in biomedicine and…
Bioethics
A branch of applied ethics that studies the value implications of practices and developments in life sciences, medicine, and health care.
Casuistry
A method of ETHICAL ANALYSIS that emphasizes practical problem solving through examining individual cases that are considered to be represen…
Codes of Ethics
Systematic statements of principles or rules of appropriate professional conduct, usually established by professional societies.
Complicity
Association with or participation in an act that is, or is perceived to be, criminal or immoral. One is complicitous when one promotes or un…
Conflict of Interest
A situation in which an individual might benefit personally from official or professional actions. It includes a conflict between a person's…
Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D019369) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗