Medicine and moral reasoning

this Collection Examines Prevalent Assumptions In Moral Reasoning Which Are Often Accepted Uncritically In Medical Ethics. It Introduces A Range Of Perspectives From Philosophy And Medicine On The Nature Of Moral Reasoning And Relates These To Illustrative Problems, Such As New Reproductive Technologies, The Treatment Of Sick Children, The Assessment Of Quality Of Life, Genetics, Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment And Abortion. In Each Case, The Contributors Address The Nature And Worth Of The Moral Theories Involved In Discussions Of The Relevant Issues, And Focus On The Types Of Reasoning Which Are Employed. 'medical Ethics Is In Danger Of Becoming A Subject Kept Afloat By A Series Of Platitudes About Respect For Persons Or The Importance Of Autonomy. This Book Is A Bold And Imaginative Attempt To Break Away From Such Rhetoric Into Genuine Informative Dialogue Between Philosophers And Doctors, With No Search After Consensus.' Mary Warnock appropriate For: Medical Ethicists, Philosophy Of Science Specialists. A Collection Examining The Theoretical Basis Of Medical Ethics And The Nature Of Moral Thinking. Introduction: Diverse Ethics / K. William M. Fulford, Grant R. Gillett And Janet M. Soskice. -- 2. Darwinism And Ethics / Mary Midgley. -- 3. Creation And Relation / Janet Martin Soskice. -- 4. Embryo Experimentation: Public Policy In A Pluralist Society / Richard M. Hare. -- 5. Ethical Considerations In Genetic Testing: An Empirical Study Of Presymptomatic Diagnosis Of Huntington's Disease / Jason Brandt. -- 6. Identity Matters / Michael Lockwood. -- 7. The Virtues In A Professional Setting / William F. May. -- 8. Medical Ethics, Moral Philosophy And Moral Tradition / Thomas H. Murray. -- 9. Roman Suicide / Miriam Griffin. -- 10. Women And Children First / Grant R. Gillet. -- 11. Moral Uncertainty And Human Embryo Experimentation / Graham Oddie. -- 12. Morality: Invention Or Discovery? / James O. Urmson. -- 13. Quality Of Life And Health Care / Roger Crisp. -- 14. Dependency: The Foundational Value In Medical Ehtics / Alastair V. Campbell. -- 15. Not More Medical Ethics / K. William M Fulford. Edited By K.w.m. Fulford, Grant R. Gillett, And Janet Martin Soskice. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Frontmatter ......Page 1 Contents ......Page 7 List of contributors ......Page 8 Acknowledgements ......Page 9 1 - Introduction: diverse ethics ......Page 11 2 - Darwinism and ethics ......Page 16 3 - Creation and relation ......Page 29 4 - Embryo experimentation: public policy in a pluralist society ......Page 39 5 - Ethical considerations in genetic testing: an empirical study of presymptomatic diagnosis of Huntington's disease ......Page 51 6 - Identity matters ......Page 70 7 - The virtues in a professional setting ......Page 85 8 - Medical ethics, moral philosophy and moral tradition ......Page 101 9 - Roman suicide ......Page 116 10 - Women and children first ......Page 141 11 - Moral uncertainty and human embryo experimentation ......Page 154 12 - Morality: invention or discovery?A ......Page 172 13 - Quality of life and health care ......Page 181 14 - Dependency: the foundational value in medical ethics ......Page 194 15 - Not more medical ethics ......Page 203 Index ......Page 216 A collection of essays bringing a range of perspectives on the nature of moral reasoning in medical ethics. 'Many of the essays will become compulsory reading both for moral philosophers and for medical students and those responsible for introducing Ethics into clinical teaching.' Mary Warnock