Synopses & Reviews
This brief summary of the issues of biomedical ethics provides a balanced, systematic, unbiased framework designed to help health professionals an lay people understand and analyze a wide range of topics that are currently controversial in medicine–or that are likely to arise in the future.
Broad in scope, it considers ethical systems from various religious and secular traditions, including those of non-western cultures such as Asian religious and secular traditions. Topics include the history of codes of ethics; the definition of death, abortion, animal rights and welfare; problems in deciding what will benefit patients; confidentiality, truth-telling, informed consent; the care of the terminally ill; genetics, birth technologies; and problems of social ethics, including resource allocation, organ transplant, and human subjects research.
For use in allied health fields.
Synopsis
Robert M. Veatch provides an introductory, comprehensive discussion of the major issues and theories in biomedical ethics. Developed from his own courses taught in schools of medicine and nursing, as well as undergraduate philosophy and religion courses, Veatch's text presents a systematic comparison of bioethical theory and examines the major issues faced in clinical and health policy settings.
New to the Second Edition! - New opening chapter summarizing ethical theory as precursor to work in bioethics
- Completely updated treatment of new developments in bioethics, including laws on euthanasia in The Netherlands, a discussion of the Gelsinger Case (on gene therapy), and stem cell research
- New chapter on methods for resolving conflict among competing ethical principles
- All-encompassing chart detailing four major questions in ethics and their respective answers
- New chapter on virtues in the health professions
Synopsis
"As a leader and pioneer in the field, Veatch is very solid in terms of accuracy." Kyle Fedler, Ashland University
"I've used the Veatch book in teaching bioethics in short courses to non-philosophy audiences: medical students, physical therapy students, physician assistants, etc. They like it very much. It is readable, accessible, and interesting. The examples are well-chosen and memorable. The topics are well-chosen and coverage [is] appropriate. The presentation is balanced and thought-provoking." Leslie Pickering Francis, University of Utah
About the Author
Robert M. Veatch, Ph.D., is Professor of Medical Ethics and former director of the Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University, where he is also professor of philosophy and adjunct professor in the medical school. He has taught medical ethics at Georgetown, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, Union College, and St. George's University School of Medicine. He was formerly Associate for Medical Ethics at the Hastings Center and is a registered pharmacist.
Table of Contents
1. A Map of the Terrain of Ethics.
2. The Hippocratic Oath and Its Challengers: A Brief History.
3. Defining Death, Abortion, and Animal Welfare: The Basis of Moral Standing.
4. Problems in Benefiting and Avoiding Harm to the Patient.
5. The Ethics of Respect for Persons: Lying, Cheating, and Breaking Promises and Why Physicians Have Considered Them Ethical.
6. The Principle of Avoiding of Killing.
7. Death and Dying: The Incompetent Patient.
8. Social Ethics of Medicine: Allocation of Resources, Transplantation, and Human Subjects Research.
9. Human Control of Life: Genetics, Birth Technologies and Modifying Human Nature.
10. Resolving Conflicts Among Principles.
11. The Virtues in Bioethics.
Appendix. Hippocratic Oath.
Principles of Medical Ethics (2001))of the American Medical Association.