This article offers an original theoretical basis for the claim that public engagementand bioethics are natural allies. It draws on Walker’s expressive-collaborative mod-el, which conceptualises morality as a social reality in which differently situatedindividuals continuously negotiate moral understandings and shared responsibilitiesto sustain social equilibrium. By highlighting the collective, dialogic, and interpre-tative nature of moral reasoning—and the epistemic partiality of all actors, includ-ing experts—it underscores the necessity of intersubjective processes for achievinglegitimate and inclusive governance in bioethics. Deliberative forms of engagementmaterialise this approach by fostering moral knowledge co-production among in-dividuals with unequally distributed authority over moral claims, thereby helpingmitigate epistemic power imbalances between laypeople and experts. Realising thisdemocratic ideal, however, requires rethinking engagement practices that are oftenexpert-driven and work in silos (i.e., engaging citizens and experts separately). Thislimits the potential for mutual learning and the reconfiguration of moral knowledgeto reflect the societal values, needs, and concerns. Instead, engagement practicesshould stress the interdependence and complementarity of laypeople and experts insolving complex ethical issues.