Health Care and Christian Ethics

How can Christian ethics make a significant contribution to health care ethics in today's Western, pluralistic society? Robin Gill explores the healing stories in the Synoptic Gospels.

Robin Gill (Author)

9780521857239, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 16 February 2006

244 pages
23.5 x 16 x 2.3 cm, 0.511 kg

'Throughout his writing, Gill exhibits a masterful knowledge of both theological and secular writing in health care ethics. … With this book, Gill has made a valuable contribution to health care ethics.' Studies in Religion

How can Christian ethics make a significant contribution to health care ethics in today's Western, pluralistic society? Robin Gill examines the 'moral gaps' in secular accounts of health care ethics and the tensions within specifically theological accounts. He explores the healing stories in the Synoptic Gospels, identifying four core virtues present within them - compassion, care, faith and humility - that might bring greater depth to a purely secular interpretation of health care ethics. Each of these virtues is examined in turn, using a range of topical issues including health care rationing, genetics, HIV/AIDS, withholding/withdrawing nutrition from PVS patients, and the empirical evidence which suggests a connection between religion and health. Professor Gill also argues that these four virtues are shared by other major religious and humanistic traditions and that, together with secular principles, they can enrich health care ethics even in a pluralistic society.

Series editor's preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. Moral gaps in secular health care ethics
2. Tensions in public theology
3. Healing in the Synoptic Gospels
4. Compassion in health care ethics
5. Care in health care ethics
6. Faith in health care ethics
7. Humility in health care ethics
Conclusion
Bibliography of works cited
Index.

Subject Areas: Medical ethics & professional conduct [MBDC], Christian theology [HRCM], Philosophy [HP]