ABOUT THIS BOOK

This collection of thirty-one cases and commentaries addresses ethical problems commonly encountered by the average health care professional, not just those working on such high-tech specialties as organ transplants or genetic engineering. It deals with familiar issues that are rarely considered in ethics casebooks, including such fundamental matters as informed consent, patient decision-making capacity, the role of the family, and end-of-life decisions. It also provides resources for basic but neglected ethical issues involving placement decisions for elderly or technologically dependent patients, rehabilitation care, confidentiality regarding AIDS, professional responsibility, and organizational and institutional ethics.

The authors describe in detail the perspectives of each party to the case, the kind of language that ethicists use to discuss the issues, and the outcome of the case. A short bibliography suggests useful articles for further reading or curriculum development.

Easily understood by readers with no prior training in ethics, this book offers guidance on everyday problems from across the broad continuum of care. It will be valuable for health-care professionals, hospital ethics committees, and for students preparing for careers in health-care professions.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Mark G. Kuczewski is the Father Michael I. English, SJ Professor of Medical Ethics and director of the Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics and Health Policy at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.

Rosa Lynn B. Pinkus is the director of the Consortium Ethics Program at the University of Pittsburgh. She is the lead author of Engineering Ethics: Balancing Cost, Schedule and Risk.

REVIEWS

The strength of these cases is their occasional complexity and reflection of the reality of day-to-day practice. . . . I highly recommend this book as an aid in the case-based teaching of medical ethics. Ethics committee members, medical students, and house staff of academic institutions should also find these cases useful in their continuing education.

-- Bioethics Forum

This book represents a major step forward in the teaching of ethics and as such has the potential to become an indispensable tool for teachers and clinicians alike. . . . A unique feature of this book is that the cases exemplify a sample of ethical dilemmas that were submitted by representatives of hospitals. . . . Kuczewski and Pinkus have produced an indispensable addition to the bioethics literature. . . . a volume that is both undaunting and user friendly. As such it represents a valuable resource and tool for educating front line clinicians, ethics committees and administrators about bioethics.

-- Nursing Ethics

"Educators will surely take advantage of the flexibility provided by the thirty-one cases/commentaries that constitute this ethics casebook. The authors have provided the foundation for serious discussions."

-- Stuart F. Spicker, emeritus professor, University of Connecticut School of Medicine

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section One: Consent and Competence

Section Two: Advance Directives and Surrogate Decision Making

Section Three: Discharge Dilemmas

Section Four: The Family in Medical Decision Making

Section Five: Organizational and Institutional Ethics

Section Six: Rehabilitation Ethics

Section Seven: Professional Responsibility: Employers, Colleagues, and Others

Section Eight: AIDS: Problems of Confidentiality

Appendix: Teaching Case Presentations: Materials to Assist You