Customer Reviews

Health Care Ethics, Fourth Edition: Health Care Ethics: A Theological Analysis

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I greatly appreciate the presentation of Father Ashley and Father O'Rourke, in regard to Christian Decision Making in Bioethics. Their explanation of norms of Christian Faith & Prudence, norms of Christian Hope, and norms of Christian Love is invaluable. However, it seems that their work needs serious cautions - in at least two areas.

As I recall, Father O'Rourke condoned removal of nuitrion and hydration from Terri Schiavo. In light of Pope John Paul II's 3/20/04 Address to the Particpants in the International Congress on "Life-Sustaining Treatments and Vegetative State: Scientific Advance and Ethical Dilemmas," I do not know whether Father O'Rourke has corrected his position.

A section of this text on rape protocol appears inconsistent with Directive 36 of the USSCB's "Ethical and Health Care Guidelines" and the Pennsylvania Catholic Bishops' "Guidelines for Catholic Hospitals Treating Victims of Sexual Assault, rev. ed." Those documents stress the need for absolute care in ensuring that treatment of a victim of sexual assault is not abortifacient. Fathers Ashley and O'Rourke - at least in this addition - did not seem to stress such.

ADDENDUM
There have long been physicians who maintain that it's IMPOSSIBLE to ensure that "emergency contraception" is NOT abortifacient. Section 23 of Dignitas Personae appears to require change at Catholic hospitals, regarding the treatment of women identified as victims of sexual assault. As per Dignitas Personae, "methods are interceptive if they interfere with the embryo before implantation & contragestative if they cause the elimination of the embryo once implanted....the use of means of interception & contragestation fall within the sin of abortion and are gravely immoral." NO guidelines are offered for supposed "moral" use of a potential interceptive or contragestative.

I found this book an excellent introduction into the Church's teachings on contemporary issues of medical ethics. An attempt is made to refute popular liberal arguments--and does a fair job at it. Lots of room for dissagreement and further discussion, however; it is not exhaustive. Emphasis on Papal writings and their implications for pluralist societies. Overall, a good read.