Is There a Duty to Die?: And Other Essays in BioethicsAmid the controversies surrounding physician-assisted suicides, euthanasia, and long-term care for the elderly, a major component in the ethics of medicine is notably absent: the rights and welfare of the survivor's family, for whom serious illness and death can be emotionally and financially devastating. In this collection of eight provocative and timely essays, John Hardwig sets forth his views on the need to replace patient-centered bioethics with family-centered bioethics. Starting with a critique of the awkward language with which philosphers argue the ethics of personal relationships, Hardwig goes on to present a general statement on the necessity of family-centered bioethics. He reflects on proxy decisions, the effects of elder care on the family, the financial and lifestyle consequences of long-term care, and physician-assisted suicide from the perspective of the family. His penultimate essay, "Is There a Duty to Die?" carries the idea of family-centered ethics to its logical, controversial, conclusion; comments upon this essay from Daniel Callahan, Larry Churchill, Joanne Lynn, and journalist Nat Hentoff offer differing views on this highly charged subject. As advances in medicine prolong patient's lives, the welfare of those ultimately responsible for medical care-the family-must be addressed. Hardwig's courageous and illuminating essays set forth a new direction in bioethics: one that considers the welfare of everyone concerned. |
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advocate affect argument assisted suicide autobiography become believe better bioethicists bioethics bone marrow transplant burden caregivers choice chronically ill consider context costs debilitated deci decide demented depersonalize desire discussion duty to die dying elder abuse elderly person essay ethics of personal euthanasia example fact family and loved family members family-assisted suicide father feel Hardwig Hastings Center Report health care system hospital husband ignore impact impersonal important incompetent involved Joanne Lynn kill life-prolonging lives means medical ethics medical treatment decisions medicine ment moral agency Nat Hentoff obligation one's ourselves patient autonomy patient's family patient's interests perhaps personal relationships physician-assisted suicide physicians problems proxy decisions quasi-personal question reasons recognize responsible death sacrifices seriously ill simply sions situation social society someone sonal story I tell talk terminal illness theory of proxy things tions treat well-being wife wrong
References to this book
Health and the Good Society:Setting Healthcare Ethics in Social Context ... Alan Cribb No preview available - 2005 |