Biomedical Ethics

by Laney, Dawn

• ISBN13: 9780737728590
• ISBN10: 0737728590
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-11-17
• Publisher: Greenhaven Pr

Summary

(Greenhaven Press) Focuses on biomedical ethics and examines how debates on this subject have evolved, and remained essentially the same over the years. Topics include late Medieval physicians, the first code of ethics for doctors and surgeons, reproductive technology, euthanasia, and more. For medical ethicists.

Table of Contents

Foreword	11	(3)
Introduction	14	(4)
Chapter 1: The Physician's Role in Medical Ethics
Chapter Preface	18	(1)
1. Ancient Codes of Medical Ethics Emphasize Rules and Personal Conduct	19	(5)
Robert Forbes
Early Babylonian and Greek codes stressed rules of conduct that physicians were expected to follow.
Doctors were expected to be ethically motivated, but some of the laws included punishments for malpractice or quakery.
2. Late Medieval Physicians Developed Strong Professional Ethics	24	(9)
Mary Catherine Welborn
Despite their lack of medical knowledge, medieval physicians adhered to high ethical standards that emphasized compassion and charity to patients.
3. Enlightenment Moral Philosophy Changes Doctor-Patient Relationships	33	(6)
Laurence B. McCullough
In the eighteenth century, the philosopher-physician John Gregory wrote the first code of professional ethics of medicine in English.
Gregory stressed a concern for patient well-being that went beyond curing disease.
4. A Nineteenth-Century Physician Develops a Modern Formal Code of Medical Ethics	39	(7)
Thomas Percival
A nineteenth century physician and scholar writes the first code of ethics to guide doctors and surgeons working in hospitals and private practice.
He describes the experience, behavior, and practices that physicians were expected to exemplify.
Chapter 2: Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide
Chapter Preface	46	(2)
1. Christian Doctrine Condemns the Ancient Practice of Euthanasia	48	(7)
Ian Robert Dowbiggin
The ancient Greek and Roman beliefs in Euthanasia and a "good death" were overturned by the Christian doctrine upholding the sanctity of life.
It was not until the eighteenth century Enlightenment that philosophers challenged the Christian view.
2. Euthanasia Becomes a Political Issue in the United States	55	(9)
Peter G. Filene
In the late 1800's and early 1900's, the euthanasia debate in the United States entered the courts and political forums when notions of physicians' authority and patients' rights came into conflict.
3. Euthanasia Should Be Legalized	64	(5)
Derek Humphry
An advocate of euthanasia argues that assisted suicide relieves suffering and allows patients to retain control of their own lives as their debilitating diseases progress.
4. Euthanasia Should Not Be Legalized	69	(5)
Andrew Fergusson
A physician asserts that pro-euthanasia arguments fall short when compared to the Christian case against legalizing assisted suicide.
He states that physicians should focus on relieving pain and on making death as gentle an experience as possible.
5. Expanded Hospice Care Is a Better Alternative to Euthanasia	74	(7)
David Cundiff
A hospice care physician argues that modern palliative care, with its aim of relieving pain and providing psychological support for patients and loved ones, should make euthanasia an unnecessary option.
6. Reactions to the Legalization of Physician-Assisted Suicide in Oregon	81	(5)
Derek Humphry and Mary Clement
A ruling in Oregon to legalize the limited use of physician-assisted suicide draws praise and criticism from both sides of the debate.
Chapter 3: Reproductive Technology and Cloning
Chapter Preface	86	(2)
1. The First Test Tube Baby Raises Ethical Issues	88	(3)
National Review
The 1978 birth of the first baby conceived through in vitro fertilization stimulated ethical, theological, and political debate on the use of reproductive technologies.
2. New Reproductive Technologies Require International Policy Regulations	91	(6)
James D. Watson
The international community should form policies concerning future reproductive technologies before scientific advances outpace ethical and political debate.
3. The First Cloned Sheep Prompts Debate on the Ethics of Human Cloning	97	(6)
Clarisa Long and Christopher DeMuth
The news of the first cloned animal caused resurgence in political and public debates about the ethical use of new technologies in medicine.
4. Fictional Representations of Technology Influence the Cloning Debate	103	(7)
Matthew Nisbet
Science fiction movies and literature shape the public perception of cloning and impact political arguments for and against the new technology.
5. All Human Cloning Should Be Banned	110	(5)
George W. Bush
The president of the United States supports a national ban on all forms of human cloning, stating that its use would likely result in commoditized children and a loss of respect for human life.
6. Therapeutic Cloning Should Not Be Banned	115	(6)
Michael J. Sandel
A Harvard professor argues that technological advances in therapeutic cloning are evidence of human ingenuity and could provide critical treatments for debilitating diseases.
7. All Forms of Human Cloning Are Ethical	121	(5)
Alex Epstein
A writer asserts that cloning is merely another medical breakthrough that should be available to assist people in living better lives.
To ban cloning is to deny the public its right to improve future generations.
Chapter 4: Eugenics and Genetic Engineering
Chapter Preface	126	(2)
1. Eugenics Would Improve the Human Race	128	(7)
Francis Galton
An English anthropologist argues that selective breeding of humans would produce more individuals with desirable attributes and improve the quality of the human race.
2. Setting Ethical Standards for Medical Research Involving Humans	135	(8)
Ralph Slovenko
Unethical experiments in Nazi Germany and the United States prompted the international community to set standards for research on humans.
3. Parents Have a Duty to Make Better Children through Genetic Enhancement	143	(8)
Julian Savulescu
A professor of ethics argues that when the opportunity to genetically enhance humans arises, parents will be obliged to improve the traits of their children or watch them fall behind their enhanced peers.
4. Prenatal Genetic Screening Is a New Form of Eugenics	151	(5)
C. Ben Mitchell
A bioethics professor asserts that choosing to keep or abort human embryos based on prenatal testing is a form of eugenics because it commonly prevents the birth of those who are deemed undesirable.
Chronology	156	(8)
Organizations to Contact	164	(5)
For Further Research	169	(3)
Index	172