Bioethics in Canada: A Philosophical Introduction

Bioethics in Canada provides a comprehensive introduction to the philosophical, historical, and medical concepts that shape contemporary debates in biomedical ethics.

Central to its focus is an exploration of the ways in which both modern medicine and bioethical debates are shaped by philosophical assumptions and commitments. It provides an extensive introduction to moral theory and the principles of bioethics, and each chapter includes a philosophical reflection that provides in-depth analysis of relevant philosophical topics. Each chapter begins with a description of a landmark case, and contains original case studies for student analysis. In addition, a method for analyzing case studies is presented. The book also includes short excerpts of significant bioethical writings by historical and contemporary thinkers, as well as recommendations for further reading.

Balancing Canadian content with an international perspective, and connecting theoretical considerations to practical ethical conflicts, this groundbreaking book is well suited to a variety of teaching styles in philosophy, medicine, health sciences, and related disciplines.

Topics include:

Ethical theories and ethical tools
Distributive justice
Health care professional-patient relationships
Medical research
Reproductive technologies
Genetics and cloning
Abortion and maternal-fetal conflicts
Brain death and organ transplantation
Death and dying
Medical paradigms and non-standard treatment