Moral Problems in Medicine: A Practical CoursebookA selection of philosophical writings can be daunting to the uninitiated in the field of philosophy. Michael Palmer makes the process of becoming acquainted with philosophical texts smoother in this practical coursebook. Designed to equip students of clinical school and nursing with essential ethical awareness for medical dilemmas, this guide to reflecting upon moral medical problems covers an impressive scope. Controversial issues, including: euthanasia, abortion, vivisection, human-testing and behaviour control, are examined in considerable detail, as well as issues such as the right to self-determination and the limits of confidentiality. Students are invited to explore each issue with the use of philosophical questions. The very concept of ethics is investigated and chapters on egoism, utilitarianism, Kant's theories, determinism and meta-ethics are included. The discussion extends into the relatively unexplored area of cutting-edge genetic research and gives readers a sense of how existing thinking can be applied when new developments arise. Each topic is lucidly introduced and then examined in more depth through extracts taken from such major ethical thinkers as James Rachels, Sissela Bok and Peter Singer. Case-studies are provided so that the student can place often overwhelming philosophical theories in context. This demonstrates how philosophy is still very much applicable to the present-day. Hypothetical questions test the student's understanding and comprehension questions demand evaluation ofthe text. In addition, a detailed bibliography at the end of each chapter provides opportunities for further research and reading. This informative introduction to ethical awareness provides the reader with vital theoretical tools for the management of real medical concerns. Although aimed primarily at students, it will also prove a valuable, thought-provoking resource for doctors, nurses, paramedics, those employed in healthcare management, and members of the public concerned with the ethics of medical practice. |
Contents
ETHICS | 15 |
Bibliography | 21 |
EGOISM | 30 |
EGOISM AND THE RIGHT TO LIFE | 36 |
John T Noonan How to Argue about Abortion | 42 |
The Right to Life and Euthanasia | 49 |
Yale Kamisar Some Nonreligious views against | 55 |
Bibliography | 63 |
George J Annas Baby Fae | 87 |
Carl Cohen The Case for the Use of Animals | 99 |
THE ETHICAL THEORY OF IMMANUEL KANT | 105 |
KANT AND THE ETHICS | 130 |
Mack Lipkin On Lying to Patients | 137 |
Bibliography | 143 |
MEDICAL PRACTICE AND THE ETHICS | 159 |
Robert Nevill Sterilizing the Mildly Mentally | 168 |
The Hedonic Calculus | 69 |
Some Criticisms of Utilitarianism | 77 |
UTILITARIANISM AND THE ETHICS OF | 81 |
Questions | 176 |
187 | |
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abortion accept action animals argue argument Baby Fae behaviour believe benefit Bentham cancer capacity categorical imperative child choice claim condition consequences consider death decide decision deontological desire determinism determinist doctor drug ethical egoism ethical naturalism ETHICAL NON-NATURALISM Ethical Theory eugenics example exist experience experimentation Extract facie duty Fae's feeling fetus foetus gene genetic disease give happiness harm human imperative individual informed consent involuntary involved judgement justified Kant Kant's killing living London means medicine mentally ill meta-ethics mildly mentally retarded Moore moral community morally responsible mother naturalistic fallacy neomort non-cognitivism normative ethics Oxford pain parents particular patient person philosophical placebos pleasure possible pregnancy prima facie duty principle of utility problem psychological egoism question reason requirement risk Ross rule rule-utilitarianism self-interest sexual situation speciesism statements sterilisation sterilization suffering suppose teleological tell testing thing treatment truth University Press utilitarian wrong York