Blackwell Reference Online

At the beginning of the 21st century, the continuing advance of biomedical science heightens our concern about the welfare of patients and the ethical practice of health care professionals. Some of these worries turn on whether the new technology-related issues are similar to traditional moral problems, or instead are of a different order or kind. Others are driven by commitments to liberty and justice that may call for new approaches to patients' rights. Attempts to answer these questions have sparked heated controversies: even the basic concepts are subject to dramatically opposing understandings. Scientists, theologians, doctors, lawyers, philosophers, and others often weigh into these discussions. Yet instead of advancing toward agreement, the multitude of conflicting arguments seems to have heightened moral uncertainty and confusion.

The Blackwell Guide to Medical Ethics enters this arena as a helpful tool for navigating the complex literature and diverse views on the key issues in medical ethics. It organizes the subject into a coherent structure that distinguishes the personal decisions of patients and the professional decisions of individual health care providers from political decisions about public policy. Employing these crucial distinctions, the chapters in the volume address the most central and controversial topics in medical ethics by explaining the underlying issues, providing an overview of the central arguments, and identifying the fundamental points of contention. This book is an indispensable reference for anyone who wants to understand the field today and grapple with the challenges and controversies it presents.