Full Description
This book provides a systematic approach to bioethical decision making that can help clarify issues in situations where "right" and "wrong" may not be clearly defined. This approach is based on the interaction of health professional and patient, focusing on the well-being and right to self-direction of both. Numerous case studies give the professional practice in bioethical decision making. Nearly 50 of them are analyzed in detail at the back of the book. Nurses, physicians, and allied health professionals will find this a valuable resource. New to this edition are: tips for educators, chapters on applications for administrators and researchers, advanced concepts in symphonology, and advanced directives.
Contents
Part I The basics of bioethical decision making: the critical history of ethics; the nature of the ethical context; the ethical approach of professional and patient in the health care setting; the professional/patient agreement; the bioethical standards and their role as preconditions of the agreement; the power of analysis through extremes. Part II Beyond the basics - an extended perspective; the bioethical standards as lenses; apparent conflicts among the bioethical standards; virtue and its values. Part III Advanced issues: elements of human autonomy; advanced concepts in symphonological theory. Part IV Use of symphonology in roles other than direct patient care: the teacher/student/patient agreement; the administrator/health professional/patient agreement; the researcher/subject agreement; the health care professional/patient agreement and advance directives. Part V Case study analyses: analysis of the specially marked dilemmas.
