Biomedical Ethics

Today, advances in medicine and biotechnology occur at a rapid pace and have a profound impact on our lives. Mechanical devices can sustain an injured person's life indefinitely. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the body and brain can reveal disorders before symptoms appear. Genetic testing of embryos can predict whether people will have diseases earlier or later in life. It may even become possible to clone human beings. These and other developments raise difficult ethical questions. Biomedical Ethics is an engaging philosophical introduction to the most important ethical positions and arguments in six areas of biomedicine: the patient-doctor relationship, medical research on humans, reproductive rights and technologies, genetics, medical decisions at the end of life, and the allocation of scarce medical resources. Concisely capturing the historical, contemporary, and future-oriented aspects of the field, author Walter Glannon discusses both perennial issues in medicine, such as doctors' duties to patients, and recent and emerging issues in scientific innovation, including gene therapy and cloning. Ideal for undergraduate courses in contemporary moral problems, introduction to ethics, and introduction to bioethics, Biomedical Ethics is accessible to students who have little or no background in ethical theory, medicine, or biotechnology.

Table of Contents:
Each chapter opens with an Introduction and ends with a Conclusion and Selected Readings. Preface: 1. History and Theories The Need for Theories Consequentialism and Deontology Virtue Ethics and Feminist Ethics Communitarianism and Liberalism The Rejection of Theories: Casuistry and Cultural Relativism 2. The Patient-Doctor Relationship Informed Consent Therapeutic Privilege Confidentiality Cross-Cultural Relations What Sort of Doctors Do We Need? 3. Medical Research on Humans Design of Clinical Trials Equipoise, Randomization, and Placebos Problems with Consent Vulnerable Populations Protections and Justice 4. Reproductive Rights and Technologies Abortion The Moral Status of Embryos Surrogate Pregnancy Sex Selection Cloning 5. Genetics Genetic Testing and Screening Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis Gene Therapy Genetic Enhancement Eugenics 6. Medical Decisions at the End of Life Defining Death Withdrawing and Withholding Treatment Double Effect Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide Futility 7. Allocating Scarce Medical Resources Setting Priorities Quality-Adjusted Life-Years Age-Based Rationing Organ Transplantation Two-Tiered Health Care Index:

About the Author :
Walter Glannon is Canada Research Chair in Medical Bioethics and Ethical Theory at the University of Calgary, where he is Associate Professor in the Departments of Philosophy and Community Health Sciences.

Review :
"As an introduction to the controversies and possible solutions in the field of biomedical ethics, this text is first rate. . . . The author carefully weaves a path through the debates and their presuppositions in order to reveal the foundations for choices that others have made or are making in contemporary society and theory. Glannon attempts to include all major current issues in this field and does a remarkable job."--Irene E. Harvey, Pennsylvania State University "Glannon's clear and lively use of contemporary cases and policies in biomedical ethics will appeal to health care practitioners as well as to bioethicists. Most importantly, it will capture the interest of students who are routinely confronted with biomedical issues in their everyday personal and professional lives. Glannon will help readers set their moral compass straight enough to navigate the sometimes choppy waters of health care."--Rosemarie Tong, University of North Carolina, Charlotte "A well-written and informative introduction to the topic of biomedical ethics. The author is familiar not only with the philosophical literature, but is also knowledgeable about the practice of medicine as it occurs today. A refreshing change from many of the current texts used in philosophy classes."--Scott Wilson, Wright State University Advance praise (first two quotes): "Glannon's clear and lively use of contemporary cases and policies in biomedical ethics will appeal to health care practitioners as well as to bioethicists. Most important, it will capture the interest of students who are routinely confronted with biomedical issues in their everyday personal and professional lives. Glannon will help readers set their moral compass straight enough to navigate the sometimes choppy waters of health care."--Rosemarie Tong, University of North Carolina at Charlotte "A well-written and informative introduction to the topic of biomedical ethics. The author is familiar not only with the philosophical literature, but is also knowledgeable about the practice of medicine as it occurs today. A refreshing change from many of the current texts used in philosophy classes."--Scott Wilson, Wright State University