216 Pages
    by Routledge

    216 Pages
    by Routledge

    Bioethics: The Basics is an introduction to the foundational principles, theories and issues in the study of medical and biological ethics. Readers are introduced to bioethics from the ground up before being invited to consider some of the most controversial but important questions facing us today. Topics addressed include:

    • the range of moral theories underpinning bioethics
    • arguments for the rights and wrongs of abortion, euthanasia and animal research
    • health care ethics including the nature of the practitioner-patient relationship
    • public policy ethics and the implications of global and public health
    • ‘3 parents’, enhancement, incidental findings and nudge approaches in health care.

    This thoroughly revised second edition provides a concise, readable and authoritative introduction for anyone interested in the study of bioethics.

    CONTENTS

    Preface

    Abbreviations

    1 What is bioethics?

    What is bioethics?

    History

    What about the law?

    Methods

    Applications

    How to use this book

    Resources and further reading

    2 Moral theories

    Introduction

    Counting the consequences

    Doing one’s duty

    Being a good person – virtue ethics

    Brotherhood and sisterhood – communitarianism

    Live free or die – libertarianism

    A balancing act – the four principles

    Resources and further reading

    Exercise

    3 Perspectives

    Introduction

    Gendered agendas – feminist approaches

    To care or not to care?

    Culture and religion

    Conclusion

    Resources and further reading

    Exercises

    4 Clinical ethics

    Introduction

    The clinical relationship – a conspiracy against the laity?

    Life before birth

    Transplantation and regenerative medicine

    Mental health

    The end of life

    After death

    Conclusions

    Resources and further reading

    Exercises

    5 Research

    Introduction

    Research ethics

    Research integrity

    Research and the future

    Conclusion

    Resources and further reading

    Exercises

    6 Justice

    Introduction

    Public health ethics

    Fair access and the paradox of health care

    Global inequity in health

    Global survival

    Resources and further reading

    Exercises

    Appendix

    Glossary

    References

    Index

    Biography

    Alastair V. Campbell, FRSE, is Emeritus Director of the Centre for Biomedical Ethics, National University of Singapore, founding editor of the Journal of Medical Ethics, formerly President of the International Association of Bioethics, and an H. K. Beecher Awardee of the Hastings Center, NY.

    'With clarity and an emphasis on case studies and practical reasoning Professor Campbell gently guides the reader through many of the fascinating current issues in bioethics in a concise, accessible, highly engaging and intelligible way. This little book is an essential first stop for anyone interested in bioethics and medical ethics, either as a student, teacher, healthcare practitioner.'

    Rebecca Bennett, University of Manchester, UK. 

    'This second edition lives up to its title by giving the basics without becoming perfunctory or partisan. It has a light touch without being superficial. It gets into thorny issues while remaining unscratched. Impressive.'

    Russell DiSilvestro, Chair Department of Philosophy, California State University, USA.