Dr. Yves Saint James Aquino
Doctor and philosopher of medicine, ethicist, social scientist
Research IDs:
Current appointments
Research Fellow, ACHEEV, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia, since 2020
Other appointments
Editor in Chief, Research Ethics, Sage Publishing, since 2024
Member, Health Ethics Advisory Panel (HEAP), NSW Ministry of Health, since 2025
Consultant, Human Research Ethics Committee, Bellberry Ltd, since 2023
Education
2019, PhD, Philosophy, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Other degrees
2016, MRes, Philosophy, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
2014, MSc, Erasmus Mundus Master of Bioethics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands; University of Padua, Padua, Italy
2009, MD, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines
2004, BA, Philosophy, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Research profile
I’m a doctor and philosopher of medicine with expertise in theoretical and applied ethics, empirical bioethics, and ethics of emerging technologies in health.
I currently work as a research fellow at the Australian Centre for Health Engagement, Evidence and Values (ACHEEV), University of Wollongong (UOW). The Centre’s work involves empirical, deliberative and democratic research methodologies to examine issues about health.
My program of research includes: ethics of artificial intelligence and big data, ethics of pathologizing ugliness in cosmetic surgery, and public health and research ethics.
Publications
Aquino, Y. S. J. et al., “Genomic Newborn Screening: Verdict From an Australian Citizens’ Jury,” Medical Journal of Australia224, no. 4 (2026): e7018. Full text link.
Aquino, Y. S. J. (2020). Is ugliness a pathology? An ethical critique of the therapeuticalization of cosmetic surgery. Bioethics, 34(4), 431-441. Full text link
Aquino, Y. S. J. (2023). Making decisions: Bias in artificial intelligence and data‑driven diagnostic tools. Australian Journal of General Practice, 52(7), 439-452. Full text link
Aquino, Y. S. J., Rohrbach, T., & Shih, P. (2025). Ethics of algorithmic invasiveness in beauty apps: an online experimental survey of public perspectives. Information, Communication & Society, 1-19. Full text link.
Media engagement
Latest media appearances:
Looksmaxxing: Inside the online trend pushing young men to change their looks | 7NEWS Australia. Link to news clip on Youtube.
What to know before saying yes to your doctor using AI. ABC News. 6 August 2025. Read article →
What beauty apps are doing to us. The Philosopher’s Zone. ABC Radio National. 26 September 2025. Listen to the episode →
Why do we see beauty as virtuous and ugliness as a problem to be fixed? Two philosophers explain. ABC News. Read the article →