A Companion to Bioethics - 9781405163316

Bioethics may have begun with the Hippocratic admonition to doctors, "First, do no harm." Today the topic has been complicated by technical advances but the concerns are the same. Biologists and physicians make decisions normally reserved for deities. Kuhse (philosophy and bioethics, Monash University, Australia) and Singer (bioethics, Princeton) present the second edition of articles that address the many complicated issues of bioethics, from decisions about genetic engineering to the rights of the patient to decide the time of their own death. Essays also analyze the issues of medical testing on animals, the availability of health care, and doctor/patient confidentiality. Most of the authors state the various sides of the debate on their topic along with ramifications to decisions. Some however, such as that on cloning, line up the objections and knock them down as emotional and uninformed. This book will certainly provoke discussion and serious consideration of the issues. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)