What Makes a Case Study Article Special?

Although a case study article may seem similar to a scientific lab report, there are a few key differences which distinguish the two of them. In this section, I will discuss what four main ethical principles tend to appear in this genre and the key aspects of the case study method you need to understand.

Four Main Principles

When a novice begins to study bioethics, it is easy to get frustrated by the medical and ethical jargon used in bioethical articles. As I past novice member, I recall being annoyed with my limited knowledge I had in bioethics. I felt the process to be challenging as I assumed I needed to be an expert in law, medicine, and philosophy, to understand the discipline. However, that is not the case.

It’s not about what you know but how you argue your own point in case study articles. Despite the abundant philosophical terms which float around in most bioethics articles, there are a few key principles which appear in almost every single one. Once you understand these four main principles, you will be one step closer to writing a case study article.

In bioethics, there are four principles which exist: beneficence, maleficence, autonomy, and justice. A majority of bioethical papers use one or two of these principles to strengthen their argument. Although it is not a requirement to include at least one of these principles, it is helpful to have one listed for your audience. This will help other novices to recognize a familiar term and prompt expert bioethicists to notice similar writing strategies known to the discourse community.

Aspects of the Case Study Method

Across bioethics journals, a common rhetorical strategy I have seen in academic articles is the ‘case study method’. The method is a threshold concept where bioethical writers attempt to speak to the audience through a rhetorical situation. The purpose of case study articles is to highlight an ethical dilemma in a medical context and to state how ethical decisions have/need to be made. These articles are often characterized by the following set of features:

Ethical Principle - What is the ethical or moral principle in question? Case studies articles will be based on a singular principle which is at the heart of the paper.
Three-Section Organization - For bioethical papers, a case study piece will have an introduction, case-study, and discussion sections. On rare occasions will an case study article have more than three sections.
Exigence - Unlike other disciplines, exigence requires a response from physicians. Because physicians have more knowledge than patients, it is their responsibility to inform the patient about their rights. As a result, some bioethicists will discuss a physicians role in greater depth and ways they can mitigate any future ethical problems from arising.
Intricate, Critical Thinking - Many opinions exist in the bioethical discourse community so there is no right or wrong answer to any ethical issue. The most important aspect in writing case studies articles is your ability to thoroughly examine the situation.
Credentials - Since bioethics is an interdisciplinary discourse community, articles will list the credentials of the authors at the end of the paper. Here is an opportunity for you to share your major, where you go to school, and relevant academic positions.