Classification Scheme

One of the easiest and most useful ways to discern the variety of works held by the Bioethics Research Library at Georgetown University is to browse its classification scheme. Developed by the library to encompass the wide diversity found in the cross-disciplinary area of bioethics, it is used as a subject index to the extensive collection of periodical literature. Numbered from 1 to 22, beginning with general ethics, bioethics and philosophy of science, it becomes more specific as the numbers rise. Subdivisions within each main category point out specific topics within particular areas. The largest categories are 9 - Health Care, 18 - Human Experimentation, and 20 - Death and Dying. Note that each document is given only one primary classification number, but may have additional numbers to provide more specificity and to identify additional topics covered.

The following documents are provided using the free Adobe Acrobat Reader format. If you do not have the Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download it from the Adobe web site.

• Library Classification Scheme: provides users with the high-level, one-page, listing of bioethics topics covered by the collection. It is available in the following formats:
• Adobe PDF
• HTML
• English, French, and German version
• Alphabetically by keyword: provides users with an alphabetical listing of bioethics topics and their numerical equivalents from the Classification Scheme.
• Numerically by classification number: provides users with a listing of bioethics topics numerically by their classification number.