The ethics of bioethics

About this book

Stem cell research, drug company influence, abortion, contraception, long-term and end-of-life care, human participants research, informed consent. These are just some of the list of ethical issues in science, medicine, and public health that is long and continually growing. These complex issues pose a daunting task for professionals in the expanding field of bioethics. But what of the practice of bioethics itself? What issues do ethicists and bioethicists confront in their efforts to facilitate sound moral reasoning and judgment in a variety of venues? Are those immersed in the field capable of making the right decisions? How and why do they face moral challenge -- and even compromise -- as ethicists? What values should guide them? In this book, the authors tackle these questions head on, bringing together notable medical ethicists and people outside the discipline to discuss common criticisms, the field's inherent tensions, and efforts to assign values and assess success. Through twenty-five essays examining the field's history and trends, shortcomings and strengths, and the political and policy interplay within the bioethical realm, this book begins a much-needed critical and constructive discussion of the moral landscape of bioethics.