ethics & public policy: clinical practice
addiction
Addiction to legal or illegal substances causes huge problems both for society and for the addict. The spiritual implications of addictions should not be overlooked.
AIDS
AIDS is a problem that isn't going away. Particularly in developing countries, economies are being devastated by the pandemic. These articles discuss HIV/AIDS related matters at home and abroad.
alternative medicine
Alternative and complementary therapies are used increasingly in our society. What is the evidence for them? And are there specifically Christian concerns?
More on alternative medicine...
care of the elderly
With a growing aging population, care of the elderly is particularly important, raising economic and ethical issues alongside clinical ones.
More on care of the elderly...
confidentiality
Confidentiality in the doctor-patient relationship is a core principle, and highly valued by the patient. It helps build trust, but can also cause problems. Are there situations in which it's acceptable to breach confidentiality?
depression
Depression is a particularly common medical problem. Articles here are for peple suffering with depression, and for their carers.
drugs
These items look at different drugs of addiction, including alcohol. Social, spiritual, physical and other factors are considered. See also the 'addiction' index.
GP issues
General practitioners face a variety of ethical issues in their surgeries. These articles have special relevance to GP issues.
holistic medicine
Holistic or 'whole person' medicine takes account of the physical, mental, social and spiritual factors when treating a patient. What place should it have?
money and debt
Debt can cause stress, affecting patients' health. It is also a growing problem for today's medical students. Items here present a Christian approach to money management and advice on avoiding debt.
psychiatry
Mental health issues raise interesting questions for Christians. These items explore psychiatry from a Christian perspective, and consider the impact of spirituality on psychiatric illness.
Religion or Belief
With growing pluralism and multiculturalism in the UK, it has become controversial to reflect Britain's Christian heritage in healthcare. Here are some illustrations from the debate.