Main description:

Practical Bioethics offers a mix of theory and readings, presented in a format that is succinct and approachable. Each chapter begins and ends with a case study, illustrating the core issues at play and emphasizing the practical nature of the dilemmas arising in medicine. Primary source texts are provided to flesh out the issues, and each of these is carefully edited and presented with interwoven explanatory comments to assist student readers. Throughout, J.K. Miles shows the importance of health care ethics to us all, whether we be medical providers, patients, or both.

Contents:

A Note to Readers
How Bioethics Journal Articles Work
Chapter 1: Ethical Dilemmas in Medicine

Opening Gambit: The Transposition of the Great Arteries
What's at Stake?
What's the Debate?

Reading 1.1: W.D. Ross, 'What Makes Right Actions Right?'
Reading 1.2: John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism
Reading 1.3: Stephen Toulmin, 'How Medicine Save the Life of Ethics'
Ethics Committee: A Minor in a Research Trial

Chapter 2 Ethical Principles for Resolving Dilemmas

Opening Gambit: Sophie's Choice without the Nazis
What's at Stake?
What's the Debate?

Reading 2.1: Ruth Macklin, 'Applying the four principles'
Reading 2.2: E. Arries, 'Virtue ethics: an approach to moral dilemmas in nursing'
Ethics Committee: Billy Likes to Eat Mud

Chapter 3: Dilemmas in the Patient-Provider Relationship

Opening Gambit: Prescribing Cebocap
What's at Stake?
What's the Debate?

Reading 3.1: Gerald Dworkin, 'Paternalism'
Reading 3.2: Aanand D. Naik, et al., 'Patient Autonomy for the Management of Chronic Conditions: A Two-Component Re-Conceptualization'
Reading 3.3: Camilla Scanlan and Ian H. Kerridge, 'Autonomy and Chronic Illness: Not Two Components But Many'
Ethics Committee: The Anxious Patient

Chapter 4. Dilemmas in Medical Research

Opening Gambit: Fruit from the Poisonous Tree?
What's At Stake?
What's the Debate?

Reading 4.1: World Medical Association, 'Declaration of Helsinki'
Reading 4.2: National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research, 'The Belmont Report'
Reading 4.3: Marcia Angell 'The Ethics of Clinical Research in the Third World'
Reading 4.4: Baruch A. Brody, 'Ethical issues in clinical trials in developing countries'
Reading 4.5: Christine Grady 'Money for Research Participation: Does It Jeopardize Informed Consent?'
Reading 4.6: Mark Kuczewski 'Is Informed Consent Enough? Monetary Incentives for Research Participation and the Integrity of Biomedicine'
Ethics Committee: African HIV Trials

Chapter 5. Dilemmas at the End of Life

Opening Gambit: Mr. Perry Wants it ALL Unplugged
What's at Stake?
What's the Debate?

Reading 5.1: James Rachels 'Active and Passive Euthanasia'
Reading 5.2: Daniel Callahan 'When Self-Determination Runs Amok'
Reading 5.3: J. McMahan 'Killing, Letting Die, and Withdrawing Aid'
Ethics Committee: A Chilly Reception

Chapter 6. Dilemmas with Scarce Medical Resources

Opening Gambit: Was the Drug Lottery Fair?
What's at Stake?
What's the Debate?

Reading 1: Leslie P. Scheunemann and Douglas B. White, 'The Ethics and Reality of Rationing in Medicine'
Reading 2: George Annas, 'The Prostitute, the Playboy, and the Poet: Rationing Schemes for Organ Transplantation'
Reading 3: Ezekiel J. Emanuel, et al., 'Fair Allocation of Scarce Medical Resources in the Time of Covid-19'
Reading 4: Lynette Reid, 'Triage of critical care resources in COVID-19: a stronger role for justice'
Ethics Committee: Ira Harker Needs a Kidney

Chapter 7. Dilemmas in Genetic and Reproductive Technology

Opening Gambit: Screening for Breast Cancer Gene
What's At Stake?
What's the Debate?

Reading 1: Julian Savulescu, 'Procreative Beneficence: Why We Should Select the Best Children'
Reading 2: Sarah E. Stoller, 'Why We Are Not Morally Required to Select the Best Children: A Response to Savulescu'
Reading 3: Rebecca Briscoe, 'Ethical Considerations, Safety Precautions and Parenthood in Legalising Mitochondrial Donation'
Reading 4: Katarina Lee, 'Ethical Implications of Permitting Mitochondrial Replacement'
Ethics Committee: Olivia Padrone wants a Dwarf Child

Chapter 8. Dilemmas for Patients and Families

Opening Gambit: Starve to Death?
What's at Stake?
What's the Debate?

Reading 1: Leonard C. Groopman, et al., 'The Patient's Work'
Reading 2: Susan M. Wolf, et al., 'Sources of Concern about the Patient Self-Determination Act'
Reading 3: J.K. Miles, 'Taking Patient Virtue Seriously'
Ethics Committee: Mosquitos or Drugs?

Chapter 9. Dilemmas with Abortion

Opening Gambit: Choosing for Two?
What's at Stake?
What's the Debate?

Reading 9.1: Judith Jarvis Thomson 'A Defense of Abortion'
Reading 9.2: Francis Beckwith, 'Personal Bodily Rights, Abortion, and Unplugging the Violinist'
Ethics Committee