Product Description

Medical ethics is a vitally important subject, and currently a highly controversial one. Recent cases have highlighted both the intellectual and moral challenges posed by the dilemmas of modern medicine, and their significance for us all. John Harris gives a fully up-to-date survey of the issues in this crucial field of applied ethics, including in vitro fertilization and experimeentationn on human embryos. Professor Harris explores the principal ethical dilemmas that arise in medical practice and research, and by challenging our basic assumptions and familiar ideas, shows how the most difficult problems may be approached and resolved. He presents a clear discussion of the major issues, and argues for a radical re-appraisal of our way of thinking about these problems and of the traditional solutions to them. The book is intended both to introduce the general reader to the problems of medical ethics, and as a text for the study and discussion of medical ethics in medical schools and in the training of health professionals. It will also be of value as a text for applied and practical ethics courses in philosophy departments and departments of social policy and administrat politics, sociology and liberal studies.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #179356 in Books
• Published on: 1985-05-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Customer Reviews

A rarity!
This book is amazing! it is concise, readable, comprehensive, entertaining, understandable and above all fascinating and challenging! It is written in plain English, rather than the staid academic style that I am so used to. It challenged my very beliefs - I'd not even thought about the right not to know about medical conditions. This book was exciting and one of the best reads I've had in the non fiction field. I am a MSc student, but not in medical ethics. Therefore I cannot comment about the accuracy or politics of this book, as it is the only book that I've read (and re-read!!) so far in this field. All medical, nursing & midwifery students should read this book. I wish that I had it when I was in training in the late 1980s. Huge value for money. The only criticism that I have is that it needs updating in light of the new judgements about rights to be kept alive, rights to die and neonatal medicine. Buy this book now!!

an enjoyable read
i used this book as part of my essential reading for an MA in ethics and law. Although the author clearly has his opinions, the arguments put across are very well construed and demonstrate lateral thinking. It is not too heavy in its context or likely to make you fall asleep trying to keep up (unlike some bioethics books). Even if you are not studying for a higher degree, it makes for an interesting read all the same.

The Value of Harris' Life?
After reading this utilitarian account of "The Value of Life" don't think that here is an account of the value of life. You would spend your time much more usefully if you managed to find a copy of, "The Elimination of Morality", by Anne Maclean. Harris, the author of this account fails desperately to connect the dots regarding what a conception of morality really consists in. Not particularly surprising, as if you look at his background, and work, he appears anchored to a Utilitarian, Consequentalist interpretation of morality. Although Maclean's book may seem a little difficult at first, since it sets out to show just how confused Harris is by dissecting his logic, should you persevere a little it becomes quite clear that many years ago when originally writing this book Harris started down the wrong path, and continues in his confusion regardless. Causing him to misunderstand completely what Maclean is attempting to show him, and us, in her criticisms of his conception of morality. He published something of an incoherent 'rebuttal' to Maclean in the form of a paper that can be found on the web. It may seem easy to understand what Harris is telling us, but just because something is easy doesn't mean that it is correct. In the present educational climate it would appear that for most students of ethics easy-is-best, hence the new edition of Harris' account. My advice, save your money, or go with Maclean to get some sort of an understanding of how utilitarians manipulate ethical perspective.