Jacob M. Appel (born February 21, 1973) is an American polymath, author, bioethicist, physician, lawyer, perpetual student, and social critic.

[1][2] He is best known for his short stories, his work as a playwright, and his writing in the fields of reproductive ethics, organ donation, neuroethics, and euthanasia.

Appel coined the term "whitecoat washing" to refer to nations using medical collaboration to distract from human rights abuses.

[24] He has written in favor of abortion rights and fertility treatment for same-sex couples, as well as against electronic medical records, which he sees as poorly secured against hacking.

[26] He has raised concerns regarding the possibility that employers will require their employees to use pharmaceuticals for cognitive enhancement and has urged that death row inmates be eligible to receive kidney transplants.