Case Analysis in Clinical Ethics

This book surveys the main methods of analysing ethical problems in modern medicine.

Richard Ashcroft (Edited by), Anneke Lucassen (Edited by), Michael Parker (Edited by), Marian Verkerk (Edited by), Guy Widdershoven (Edited by)

9780521543156, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 18 August 2005

262 pages, 3 tables
22.8 x 15.3 x 1.9 cm, 0.432 kg

'This volume is an excellent step in the general direction of grounding medical ethics in more real life experiences.' Megan Clinch, The London School of Economics

Case Analysis in Clinical Ethics is an eclectic review from a team of leading ethicists covering the main methods for analysing ethical problems in modern medicine. Anneke Lucassen, a clinician, begins by presenting an ethically challenging genetics case drawn from her clinical experience. It is then analysed from different theoretical points of view. Each ethicist takes a particular approach, illustrating it in action and giving the reader a basic grounding in its central elements. Each chapter can be read on its own, but comparison between them gives the reader a sense of how far methodology in medical ethics matters, and how different theoretical starting points can lead to different practical conclusions. At the end, Anneke Lucassen gives a clinician's response to the various ethical methods described. Practising clinical ethicists and students on upper level undergraduate and Master's degree courses in medical ethics and applied philosophy will find this invaluable.

Notes on contributors
1. Philosophical introduction: case analysis in clinical ethics Richard Ashcroft, Michael Parker, Marian Verkerk and Guy Widdershoven
2. Families and genetic testing
the case of Jane and Phyllis Anneke Lucassen
3. Family access to shared genetic information: an analysis of the narrative Brian Hurwitz
4. A virtue ethics approach Alastair Campbell
5. Interpretation and dialogue in hermeneutic ethics Guy Widdershoven
6. 'Power, corruption and lies': ethics and power Richard Ashcroft
7. Reading the genes Robert Withers
8. A utilitarian approach Julian Savulescu
9. A feminist care ethical approach on genetics Marian Verkerk
10. A conversational approach to the ethics of genetic testing Michael Parker
11. Families and genetic testing
the case of Jane and Phyllis from a four principles perspective Raanan Gillon
12. A phenomenological approach to bioethics George Agich
13. An empirical approach Søren Holm
14. Response to ethical dissections of the case Anneke Lucassen
15. Philosophical reflections Michael Parker, Richard Ashcroft, Marian Verkerk and Guy Widdershoven
Index.

Subject Areas: Medical genetics [MFN], Medical ethics & professional conduct [MBDC]