Dictionary of Medical Ethics

Abstract

The newly revised edition of the<i>Dictionary of Medical Ethics</i>updates and expands the British publication of 1977. It provides alphabetical entries for terms in the current medical ethical discourse and major areas of ethical problems in the practice of medicine. They are meant to be useful for both practicing clinician and lay person. More than 70% of the entries are written by physicians, while others come from lawyers, clergy, and philosophers. Many of the major organizations in the field of medical ethics have short entries written by their chief officers describing the nature of their work. All of the entries are relatively brief. They range from one sentence to several pages and are uneven in style, objectives, and sophistication. The best ones provide statements of the relevant medical issue and of the ethical areas of controversy, a survey of ethical positions taken regarding the issue and the kinds of