Empirical research in medical ethics: How conceptual accounts on normative-empirical collaboration may improve research practice

A considered reference to normative research questions can be expected from good quality empirical research in medical ethics. However, a significant proportion of empirical studies currently published in medical ethics lacks such linkage between the empirical research and the normative analysis. In the first part of this paper, we will outline two typical shortcomings of empirical studies in medical ethics with regard to a link between normative questions and empirical data: (1) The complete lack of normative analysis, and (2) cryptonormativity and a missing account with regard to the relationship between 'is' and 'ought' statements. Subsequently, two selected concepts of empirical-normative collaboration will be presented and how these concepts may contribute to improve the linkage between normative and empirical aspects of empirical research in medical ethics will be demonstrated. Based on our analysis, as well as our own practical experience with empirical research in medical ethics, we conclude with a sketch of concrete suggestions for the conduct of empirical research in medical ethics.High quality empirical research in medical ethics is in need of a considered reference to normative analysis. In this paper, we demonstrate how conceptual approaches of empirical-normative collaboration can enhance empirical research in medical ethics with regard to the link between empirical research and normative analysis.The methodology of medical ethics has shifted over the last two decades from a predominant use of normative-philosophical analyses to an increasing involvement of empirical methods. In the context of this so-called 'empirical turn' [1], a multitude of articles has been published in journals of medical ethics. The respective body of literature can be divided into two types of publications. The first type encompasses conceptual accounts of empirical ethics. Examples of this are publications which focus on the interplay between normative and empirical elements i