Journal of Medical Ethics Ranked #1 Bioethics Journal Worldwide

Strategic Insights -

The Journal of Medical Ethics, published by BMJ, has solidified its position as the leading global platform for cutting-edge work in medical and bioethics, according to the 2025 Google Scholar Metrics. Co-led by Associate Professor Brian D Earp and featuring articles on various ethical aspects of health care, the journal promotes ethical reflection and conduct in scientific research and medical practice. With a new editorial leadership, Associate Professor Earp, Professor Lucy Frith, and Associate Professor Arianne Shahvisi have outlined their editorial philosophy, emphasizing the importance of reasoned argument, conceptual clarity, and evidence-based scholarship.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Journal of Medical Ethics has been ranked the #1 bioethics journal in the world according to the 2025 Google Scholar Metrics, reaffirming its status as a leading global platform for medical and bioethics research.
  • The journal is co-led by Associate Professor Brian D Earp, Director of the EARP Lab, and features articles on various ethical aspects of health care relevant to healthcare professionals, medical ethics professionals, researchers, policy makers, and patients.
  • Associate Professor Earp, Professor Lucy Frith, and Associate Professor Arianne Shahvisi have begun their new roles as Co-Editors-in-Chief, outlining an editorial philosophy that prioritizes reasoned argument, conceptual clarity, and evidence-based scholarship.
  • The new editorial leadership aims to continue raising the bar for contributions in medical ethics and expanding the journal's reach and inclusiveness.
  • The Journal of Medical Ethics has a strong legacy of publishing rigorous, influential, and timely work in medical ethics, shaping policy, practice, and scholarship at the intersection of medicine, ethics, and society.
  • The journal's international editorial team and interdisciplinary scope make it a significant platform for bioethics research and discussion.
  • The journal's h5-index, which captures the number of highly cited articles published in the last five years, provides an indication of its influence and visibility within the field of bioethics.

Statistics:

  • The Journal of Medical Ethics has been ranked #1 bioethics journal in the world according to the 2025 Google Scholar Metrics.
  • The journal has a history of publishing rigorous, influential, and timely work in medical ethics, with a strong legacy in the field.
  • The h5-index provides a widely used, publicly accessible measure of journal impact based on citation data.
  • The journal's recent transition to new editorial leadership marks a significant new chapter in its 50-year history.

Sources:

  • "Journal of Medical Ethics ranked number one in the world." 2025 VerticalNews.
  • Earp, B. D., Frith, L., & Shahvisi, A. (2025). Editorial. Journal of Medical Ethics.
  • "Google Scholar Metrics." 2025 Google Scholar.