Debating Health Care Ethics: Canadian Contexts

In this updated second edition, Debating Health Care Ethics explores contemporary moral challenges in health care, providing students with the essential tools to understand and critically evaluate the leading arguments in the field and to develop their own arguments on important moral problems in health care. Written in a clear and concise way, the textbook’s first three chapters explore the nature of arguments and ethical theories, while the remaining chapters introduce students to moral problems in health care through case studies and dramas that feature complex scenarios involving patients, family members, and health care providers. Each case study and drama is followed by a lively debate where the authors defend their unique approaches to the dilemma. This new edition now includes more gender inclusive dramas, an expanded discussion of feminist ethics, a case study on euthanasia that highlights changes to Canadian law, and an update on fetal consciousness that informs the debate on abortion. Emphasizing critical issues in health care from a Canadian perspective, this essential textbook will benefit students in philosophy, nursing, and health studies.

Debating Health Care Ethics begins with an excellent overview of the nature of arguments, philosophical methodology, and normative ethical theory. In the remaining chapters, the authors explore moral problems in health care of interest to Canadians through dramas, case studies, and dialogues. This approach makes vivid these real-world issues and demonstrates how arguments are developed, as well as criticized, defended, and reformulated, from multiple philosophical perspectives to deal with these moral problems.

Rich with boxed features that encourage reader participation and demystify complex concepts, this new edition includes an expanded discussion on feminist ethics, a case study on euthanasia that highlights recent changes to Canadian law, and an update on fetal consciousness that informs the debate on abortion. Supplementary resources available to instructors include an ethics case reporting form, a sample syllabus, and sample essay and exam questions. This engaging and accessible edition will greatly benefit students in philosophy, health studies, and nursing.