Principles of Health Care Ethics

Analyzes the moral problems confronting health care practitioners from a wide variety of perspectives, especially those connected by four major ethical principles--respect for autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice.

About the Editors: Raanan Gillon qualified in medicine from University College London and Christ Church Oxford and then spent seven years in medical journalism, editing a weekly medical newspaper before returning to medicine in 1971. In 1979 he completed a philosophy degree at London University while practising part time as a general practitioner and student health doctor, obtaining the university?s ?top first? in philosophy and the Birkbeck College prize for philosophy. He became Editor of the Journal of Medical Ethics (JME) in 1981. In 1982 he became Director of the Imperial College Health Service, and in 1987 Visiting Professor of Medical Ethics at King?s College London, at the Centre of Medical Law and Ethics. In 1989, he was appointed Visiting Professor of Medical Ethics at St Mary?s Hospital Medical School/Imperial College, London University?an appointment he combines with his general practice and editorship of the JME. He has written and lectured extensively on medical ethics, and continues to be especially interested in issues to do with the concept of personhood, and in the use of the ?Four Principles? approach as a common basis not only for health care ethics but also for international and intercultural ethics more generally.

Ann Lloyd, who has a degree in philosophy, English and economics, is a freelance journalist specializing in women's issues, health and medical ethics. She met Raanan Gillon in 1969 when he was Editor and she was Chief Sub-editor of a medical weekly newspaper for GPs, Medical News Tribune. After eight years in New Zealand, writing for magazines and the New Zealand Herald she returned to England in 1980, becoming Technical Editor of the Journal of Medical Ethics in 1982. She currently writes for such newspapers as The Guardian, The Times and The Independent as well as the medical press.