Basics of Bioethics, The [Paperback]

Robert Veatch (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0130839760 | ISBN-13: 978-0130839763 | Publication Date: November 11, 1999 | Edition: 1

For short undergraduate courses or course segments in Bioethics and Ethics in departments of Philosophy and Religion; Social Problems courses in Sociology departments; and courses in Medical Ethics or Biomedical Ethics in Medical schools and Schools of Nursing. This brief summary of the issues of biomedical ethics provides a balanced, systematic, unbiased framework designed to help students understand and analyze a wide range of topics that are currently controversial in medicine-or that are likely to arise in the future. Broad in scope, it considers ethical systems from various religious and secular traditions, including those of non-western cultures such as Asian religious and secular traditions. Topics include the history of codes of ethics; the definition of death, abortion, animal rights and welfare; problems in deciding what will benefit patients; confidentiality, truth-telling, informed consent; the care of the terminally ill; genetics, birth technologies; and problems of social ethics, including resource allocation, organ transplant, and human subjects research.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"As a leader and pioneer in the field, Veatch is very solid in terms of accuracy." — Kyle Fedler, Ashland University

"I've used the Veatch book in teaching bioethics in short courses to non-philosophy audiences: medical students, physical therapy students, physician assistants, etc. They like it very much. It is readable, accessible, and interesting. The examples are well-chosen and memorable. The topics are well-chosen and coverage [is] appropriate. The presentation is balanced and thought-provoking." — Leslie Pickering Francis, University of Utah

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

Based on the author's extensive training in both religious and philosophical ethics as well as the medical sciences, this brief summary of the issues of biomedical ethics provides a balanced, systematic, unbiased framework designed to help readers understand and analyze a wide range of topics that are currently controversial in medicine--or that are likely to arise in the future. Broad in scope, it explores many alternative ethical approaches to health care decision making (not just Hippocratic ethics)-- drawn from various religious and secular traditions, including those of non-western cultures such as Asian religious and secular traditions. Includes case studies. Topics include the history of codes of ethics; the definition of death, abortion, animal rights and welfare; problems in deciding what will benefit patients; confidentiality, truth-telling, informed consent; the care of the terminally ill; genetics, birth technologies; and problems of social ethics, including resource allocation, organ transplant, and human subjects research. For health professionals and lay people who want a brief introduction to the biomedical ethical issues.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall College Div; 1 edition (November 11, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130839760
• ISBN-13: 978-0130839763
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,620,203 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Circular Arguments of the Topic of Bioethics, July 23, 2000

By 

LCL - See all my reviews

This review is from: Basics of Bioethics, The (Paperback)

This book briefly covers many topics relating to bioethics in a manner in which it can be used as a textbook or a book for informational enjoyment. The best aspect of the book is its medical cases; these give real-life examples of the topics discussed so that the arguments and rationale are not so confusing. As a college student, I found it very helpful because it covered a broad range of ethical topics, including abortion, euthanasia, etc.

Although the book was informative, the arguments were sometimes unclear. I understand that bioethics is a field of endless circular arguments, but the manner in which the topics were presented was sometimes difficult to understand. Some case examples were used but I think more would have been quite helpful. Whollly, the book served its purpose for me as being an introduction to bioethics, and it includes glossaries after every chapter to look up terms used in the text.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for entry level bioethics class, August 27, 2006

By 

BringtheHit Ryan "nolan13ryan" (Somerset, Ky USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Basics of Bioethics, The (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

This is well written and concise...I choose it for the Bioethics class I will be teaching in Jan 07.
Author knows what he is talking about!