Main description:

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:

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