The Unit for Bioethics forms part of the Centre for Applied Ethics (CAE), created by Prof Anton van Niekerk in 1990 in the Philosophy Department at Stellenbosch University. The CAE provides innovative research focused on addressing the ethical challenges in medicine, business, the environment, government, and civil society. The CAE houses five research units, including the Unit for Bioethics, an interdisciplinary research and advisory body.  The Unit focuses on problems arising from applying ethical norms to practices and procedures within modern science, medicine, and biotechnology. 

Dr Malcom de Roubaix, a research fellow at the Unit, recently published a book titled, Responsible Reproductive Choice in the 21st Century: Procreation and Abortion. It systematically traces the development and significance of female reproductive rights, including the right to safe termination of pregnancy (TOP). Dr de Roubaix approaches the endless pro-life/pro-choice debate from a historical, social, emotional, and legal perspective, with a prime focus on South Africa against a global backdrop.

Dr de Roubaix said that the book is not only for the benefit of moral philosophers, theologians, medical service providers, or students within these disciplines. It is also accessible to anyone prepared to question their accepted beliefs or ideas and embrace out-of-the-box thinking.

“There is a general belief that the world is overpopulated. Yet we live in an ageing society, and the world population will reach its peak of between 10-11 billion within 60 years. The world's demography will drastically change, and the proportion of elderly persons will be much higher than it is now. This will have a marked influence on the sustainability of society as we know it.

With low fertility rates, who will work, teach, care (for the elderly and in healthcare), or provide inflow to keep insurance and pension schemes afloat? How are we to reconcile these tensions? Do we, therefore, have a duty to procreate? Is procreation a right, or a privilege? What does it mean to procreate responsibly? Does it mean that the poor should not procreate? These and other questions are discussed in this book."

Dr de Roubaix is no stranger to academic excellence. In addition to Procreation and Abortion, Dr de Roubaix published an Afrikaans book titled, Hoop, Heling en Harmonie: Dink Nuut Oor Siekte en Genesing, for which he was awarded the 2021 Andrew Murray Prize for Theological Publications. The upcoming revision of this book will be titled, A Journey Into The Human Experience of Incurable Disease: From Hope to Healing.

From Hope to Healing critically investigates the unique human experience and response to illness and treatment, which affects the body, mind, and the core of human existence and identity. Dr de Roubaix said, “This book timeously and systematically addresses the unique demands of our time, with ample literature references and citations, and challenges the reader to think anew about the experience of illness."

More than an academic and researcher, Dr de Roubaix is an author at heart with several books in the pipeline: Taking ownership of your ageing; Tiny habits to age successfully and live longer; and for fun, a volume of short stories. In his spare time, he is finalising a gory South African crime novel entitled Broken Lives, with no less than seven dead bodies!

Another of the Unit for Bioethics' upcoming research-based publications is Challenges in Medical Ethics: Perspectives from South Africa., edited by C. Jones, M. Kruger, J. van den Heever & A.A. van Niekerk. Four members of the Unit have contributed to this book, namely, Prof Anton Van Niekerk, Prof Willem Landman, Dr Susan Hall, and Dr Andrea Palk.

Prof Anton Van Niekerk, Director of the Unit for Bioethics and the Centre for Applied Ethics said, “We are particularly proud of Malcolm de Roubaix's recent work, its accolades, and its prestigious publisher (Cambridge Scholars). The past year has been a good one for our Unit, also in view of the book edited by Jones, Kruger, Van Heerden, and Van Niekerk with financial support from the Unit.

“This book (Challenges in Medical Ethics: The South African Context) investigates issues in Bioethics that are particularly pertinent to South Africa and that have not been developed in such a comprehensive volume by leading bioethicists. These issues include bioethics and law, the right to health care, termination of pregnancy, assisted death, gender and athletics, transplantation, HIV-positive donors in kidney transplants, organ trafficking, mental health and multiculturalism, neuroethics, significantly increased longevity, medical research, and medical technologies."