Ethics in Medicine [Paperback]

This book both presents a succinct history of medical ethics and discusses a wide range of important ethical dilemmas in the provision of modern health care. A synopsis is provided of ethics through the ages and the role of ethics in the evolution of medicine. Principles and sources of medical ethics, as well as different religious and secular perspectives, are explained. Ethical concerns in relation to a variety of specific issues are then examined. These issues include, for example, human experimentation, stem cell research, assisted reproductive technologies, termination of pregnancy, rationing of health care, euthanasia, and quality of life issues. The authors many years of practicing medicine in different cultures and countries and his passion for?theology works, philosophy, literature, poetry, history, and anthropology have informed and enriched the contents of this stimulating book.Beginning with a succinct history of medical ethics, this book examines the ethical dimensions of human experimentation, stem cell research, assisted reproductive technologies, termination of pregnancy, rationing of health care, euthanasia and quality of life.

Part 1. Ethics through the ages: 1 . Early period.- 2. Greek period - Sophists and Socrates ?et al.- 3. Arab period.- 4. Bacon - Bertrand Russell.- 5. Voltaire - Dawkins- McIntyre.- Part 2. Metaphysics, religious- secular perspectives: 6. Analysis of secular and religious thought.- Part 3. Cultural anthropology and medical ethics: 7. Normative principles, autonomy, beneficence, non?maleficence?and justice.- 8. Universalism or Relativism.- 9. Medical ethics in a pluralistic society.- Part 4. Nomenclature and description: 10. Principles and sources of medical ethics.- 11. Justice: a pillar of ethics. Distributive justice and international clinical trials.- Part 5. The role of ethics in evolution of medicine: 12.Research ethics.- 13. Human experimentation.- 14. The scourge of drug trials.- 15. Human embryonic stem celll³’