Bioethics Beyond the Headlines: Who Lives? Who Dies? Who Decides? / Edition 1

by Albert R. Jonsen

Overview

Bioethics asks fundamental questions. "Who lives? Who dies? Who decides?" These questions are relevant to us all. Too often, the general public's sole encounter with these weighty questions is through sound bites fed to us by the media—where complex, difficult matters are typically presented in superficial and inaccurate terms. Here, renowned bioethicist Albert R. Jonsen equips readers with the tools and background to navigate the fascinating and complex landscape of bioethics.

Bioethics Beyond the Headlines is a primer. You will not find convoluted philosophical arguments in this volume. Rather, you will find an engaging sampling of the key questions in bioethics, including euthanasia, assisted reproduction, cloning and stem cells, neuroscience, access to healthcare, and even research on animals and questions of environmental ethics—areas typically overlooked in general introductions to bioethics. But a "primer" is not merely a first book—it should also "prime" the interest of the reader, to prepare the mind for a more expansive venture into these issues. Bioethics Beyond the Headlines intends to do just that.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780742545243
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	08/25/2005
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Albert R. Jonsen is professor emeritus of ethics in medicine at the School of Medicine, University of Washington.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Who Lives? Who Dies? Who Decides? An Essay on Ethics and Bioethics Part 2 Clinical Bioethics Chapter 3 Defining Death Chapter 4 Foregoing Life Support: The Quality of Life Chapter 5 Autonomy of the Patient Chapter 6 Euthanasia Chapter 7 Organ Transplantation Chapter 8 Assisted Reproduction Chapter 9 Abortion Part 10 Scientific Bioethics Chapter 11 Research with Humans Chapter 12 Genetics Chapter 13 Neuroscience Chapter 14 Cloning and Stem Cells Research Part 15 The Wider World of Bioethics Chapter 16 Bioethics and the Health Care System Chapter 17 Cultural Bioethics Chapter 18 Animal Ethics Chapter 19 Environmental Ethics Chapter 20 Conclusion Chapter 21 Appendix A: Precis of Moral Philosophy Chapter 22 Appendix B: Precis of History of Medical Ethics Chapter 23 Appendix C: The Frankenstein Analogy Chapter 24 Glossary Chapter 25 Index

Editorial Reviews

The book is written in a clear and engaging style, and nicely blends a description of current issues with quite a bit of historical background…There is relatively little jargon or technical terminology; people who are looking for extensive discussions of Kant or deontology will not find it here. What the reader does get, happily, is the wisdom of one of the leading bioethicists, distilled into a very palatable form.

Depaul Journal Of Health Care Law

This book succeeds as both a primer in bioethics and a prime to further exploration by the curious and concerned, an endeavor assisted by excellent topical lists of sources. Jonsen provides a thorough review of numerous issues in bioethics, focusing each chapter on one or two headline cases but then exploring the specific topic broadly but in surprising depth. It provides a finely grained and clearly informative view of bioethics.

Choice

This book succeeds as both a primer in bioethics and a prime to further exploration by the curious and concerned, an endeavor assisted by excellent topical lists of sources. Jonsen provides a thorough review of numerous issues in bioethics, focusing each chapter on one or two headline cases but then exploring the specific topic broadly but in surprising depth. It provides a finely grained and clearly informative view of bioethics.

CHOICE

... engaging and readable ... True to his vision, Jonsen shows how we can use the techniques of reason and the insights and sympathies of practicing bioethicists to understand the persistent questions not just of bioethics but of our human predicament: Who lives? Who dies? Who decides?

Metaphysical - Larry Hultgren

This book succeeds as both a primer in bioethics and a prime to further exploration by the curious and concerned, an endeavor assisted by excellent topical lists of sources. Jonsen provides a thorough review of numerous issues in bioethics, focusing each chapter on one or two headline cases but then exploring the specific topic broadly but in surprising depth. It provides a finely grained and clearly informative view of bioethics.

Choice Reviews

... engaging and readable ... True to his vision, Jonsen shows how we can use the techniques of reason and the insights and sympathies of practicing bioethicists to understand the persistent questions not just of bioethics but of our human predicament: Who lives? Who dies? Who decides?--Larry Hultgren "Metaphysical "

The book is written in a clear and engaging style, and nicely blends a description of current issues with quite a bit of historical background...There is relatively little jargon or technical terminology; people who are looking for extensive discussions of Kant or deontology will not find it here. What the reader does get, happily, is the wisdom of one of the leading bioethicists, distilled into a very palatable form.--Depaul Journal Of Health Care Law

This book succeeds as both a primer in bioethics and a prime to further exploration by the curious and concerned, an endeavor assisted by excellent topical lists of sources. Jonsen provides a thorough review of numerous issues in bioethics, focusing each chapter on one or two headline cases but then exploring the specific topic broadly but in surprising depth. It provides a finely grained and clearly informative view of bioethics.--CHOICE

From the Publisher