Main description:

Prominent bioethicists whose work is rooted in philosophy, religion, medicine, nursing, literature, history, and policy analysis join together to discuss their methods and professional insights, as well as to better define the field and its future development. Writing from the perspective of their own specialties, the authors: review just how their personal disciplines have contributed to bioethics, debate the current and future bioethical issues they face, and identify the most significant strengths and weaknesses in the current practice of bioethics. Seeking a sound foundation for the discipline, they also consider what basic knowledge and skills are necessary to be competent in bioethics, what methods and theoretical approaches are most promising for its future development, and what issues or perspectives have been neglected.

Contents:

The Owl and the Caduceus: Does Bioethics Need Philosophy? John D. Arras Religion, Theology, and Bioethics James F. Childress Medicine and Bioethics Howard Brody When Policy Analysis Is Carried Out in Public: Some Lessons for Bioethics from NBAC's Experience Eric M. Meslin Finding the Good Behind the Right: A Dialogue Between Nursing and Bioethics Patricia Benner Medical Ethics: Literature, Literary Studies, and the Question of Interdisciplinarity Kathryn Montgomery History and Bioethics M. L. Tina Stevens Index