Contemporary Issues in Bioethics PDF
Preview Contemporary Issues in Bioethics
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN BIOETHICS Edited by Peter A. Clark Contemporary Issues in Bioethics Edited by Peter A. Clark Published by InTech Janeza Trdine 9, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia Copyright © 2012 InTech All chapters are Open Access distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license, which allows users to download, copy and build upon published articles even for commercial purposes, as long as the author and publisher are properly credited, which ensures maximum dissemination and a wider impact of our publications. After this work has been published by InTech, authors have the right to republish it, in whole or part, in any publication of which they are the author, and to make other personal use of the work. Any republication, referencing or personal use of the work must explicitly identify the original source. As for readers, this license allows users to download, copy and build upon published chapters even for commercial purposes, as long as the author and publisher are properly credited, which ensures maximum dissemination and a wider impact of our publications. Notice Statements and opinions expressed in the chapters are these of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of the editors or publisher. No responsibility is accepted for the accuracy of information contained in the published chapters. The publisher assumes no responsibility for any damage or injury to persons or property arising out of the use of any materials, instructions, methods or ideas contained in the book. Publishing Process Manager Silvia Vlase Technical Editor Teodora Smiljanic Cover Designer InTech Design Team First published February, 2012 Printed in Croatia A free online edition of this book is available at www.intechopen.com Additional hard copies can be obtained from [email protected] Contemporary Issues in Bioethics, Edited by Peter A. Clark p. cm. ISBN 978-953-51-0169-7 Contents Preface IX Chapter 1 Two Cautions for a Common Morality Debate: Investigating the Argument from Empirical Evidence Through the Comparative Cultural Study Between Western Liberal Individualist Culture and East Asian Neo-Confucian Culture 1 Marvin J. H. Lee Chapter 2 Ethical Resources for the Clinician: Principles, Values and Other Theories 15 Thomas M. Donaldson Chapter 3 Neuroenhancement – A Controversial Topic in Contemporary Medical Ethics 39 Kirsten Brukamp and Dominik Gross Chapter 4 Medical Ethics and Economic Medicalization 51 Geoffrey Poitras Chapter 5 Decision-Making in Neonatology: An Ethical Analysis from the Catholic Perspective 69 Peter A. Clark Chapter 6 Ethics in Pharmaceutical Issues 83 M. I. Noordin Chapter 7 Placebo Use in Depression Research: Some Ethical Considerations 103 Ybe Meesters, Martine J. Ruiter and Willem A. Nolen Chapter 8 Medical Ethics in Undergraduate Medical Education in Pakistan: Towards a Curricular Change 115 Ayesha Shaikh and Naheed Humayun VI Contents Chapter 9 Medical Ethics in the Czech Republic – Experiences in the Post-Totalitarian Country 131 Jiri Simek, Eva Krizova and Lenka Zamykalova Preface The field of Medical Ethics, also known as Bioethics, has grown exponentially over the years especially in its expertise and funding. If we date it back to the Seattle Artificial Kidney Selection Committee, also known as the “God Squad” in 1962, we understand that the field of Bioethics is about a half of century old. Bioethics has become established as an academic discipline with numerous journals and professional societies, it is reported on regularly in the media and its issues impact the lives of people globally. In developed countries, numerous political, social and economic developments have increased the number of ethics committees, Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) and ethics consults in general. In addition, academic programs for undergraduate and graduate students are increasing and flourishing. Global conferences on every conceivable medical-ethical issue are well attended by medical, ethical and legal colleagues and reported on extensively by the media. The prominence of bioethics has grown and continues to grow on a daily basis. With this growth come challenges. Academic bioethicists are challenged to teach about new issues like face transplants while showing how their analysis is based on previous related cases such as heart and hand transplants. Clinical bioethicists are confronted with financial and resource allocation issues that have a direct impact not only on patient’s lives but on hospitals as well. Internationally, bioethicists are confronted by first world researchers and sponsors dedicated to overcoming various diseases but who fail to examine pertinent ethical issues that have a direct impact on human subject research. Sponsors of international research follow the spirit of international guidelines but often fail to follow the letter of the law that grounds these guidelines to protect human subjects in-country and provide sustainable benefits to in-country residents. Resources necessary to provide basic care to patients such as adequate pain management for cancer patients are available in abundance in developed countries but are lacking miserably in developing countries. Patients in many developing countries are sent home withering in pain with nothing more than ibuprofen to control their pain. These patients die horrible deaths and lack the basic dignity and respect that all human persons deserve. What has become a medical standard of care in many First World countries is limited by resources and injustices in many Third World countries. These profound limitations have become topics of concern for many international Bioethics societies and conferences. X Preface The strength of this book on contemporary issues in bioethics is that it examines many of the critical medical-ethics issues that confront all of us today. Bioethics has become the business of everyone because it touches the lives of everyone. The ethical implications of issues like genetic engineering, genetic therapy, physician-assisted suicide, nanotechnology, reproductive technologies, stem cell research, cloning, end- of-life issues, organ transplantation, and health care reform go beyond individual hospitals, research centers and nursing homes. How these issues are resolved will determine for years and even decades who we are, not only as individuals, but who we are as a global community. These issues need to be examined broadly by individuals of varying talents, because these issues are far too important and life- changing to be left in the hands of a few medical professionals and researchers. The main strength of this book is that this international exchange of ideas will not only highlight many of these crucial issues but will strengthen the discipline of bioethics globally. A critical exchange of ideas allows everyone to learn and benefit from the insights gained through others’ experiences. Analyzing and understanding real bioethics issues and cases and how they are resolved is the basis of education in bioethics for those who will have to make these decisions in the future. The more we examine, analyze, and debate these bioethics issues and cases, the more knowledge will be gained and hopefully, we will all gain more practical wisdom for the benefit of humankind. Peter A. Clark Director-Institute of Catholic Bioethics, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Dedication I dedicate this book to my sister and brother-in-law, Mary Beth and Dominic Moffa and my nephews and niece, Nicholas, Andrew and Michelle Moffa, for instilling in me their love and knowledge and their courage to question.
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