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Most Christian medical ethics books on the market are written by clinicians, aiming to provide biblical answers to tricky issues. Sean Doherty's thought provoking booklet starts from a different premise. Doherty is an Anglican curate and has led a medical ethics course for undergraduates, which formed the basis of the...
This book, written jointly by CMF's late President Alan Johnson and his son Paul, has the look and feel of a practical guide to the sometimes confusing field of medical ethics. Its simple layout, diagrams, and illustrations make complicated concepts accessible for medical students, doctors and lay people. The authors...
'A 55-year old woman has come to hospital for investigations for anaemia and shortness of breath. She says she will kill herself if she is found to have cancer. The results confirm a malignant tumour. Do you risk her life by telling her she has cancer?' This case, an illustration...
The television series 24 is set in the fictional US government Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) and each season depicts a 24 hour period in the life of Special Agent Jack Bauer. Although the series has been hugely successful, 24 has repeatedly aroused media attention for its dubious take on ethics. ...
Setting the scene The place of ethics in the undergraduate curriculum continues to be a hot topic in UK medical schools. For many years now, few have disputed that medical students should be introduced in the classroom to the wide array of ethical issues in medicine. This early exposure provides...
Why Ethics Matters! In my second year at medical school we were given a series of ethics lectures. These were delivered by a variety of academics, many of whom were extremely eminent in their field. However, despite this and (probably more importantly) the exam at the end of the course,...
The pro-euthanasia lobby has been very effective (up until recently) in promoting their message of 'compassionate relief of unbearable suffering'. They have succeeded in gaining the support of the general public, which, some polls suggest, is 82% in favour of a change in the law. Thankfully, and mercifully, the House...
Your first reaction to this enigma may be to dismiss the scenario, simply because it is so rare that you are unlikely to encounter it in everyday medical practice. However, the principles we will examine here are applicable to many beginning of life dilemmas and, as biotechnology pushes the boundaries...
The clinical scenario here is at the interface between general practice and the Citizens’ Advice Bureau (CAB). It is important gently to probe patients who present with symptoms of anxiety or depression to ascertain the root cause of their troubles. The GP should avoid prescribing in a ‘one size fits...
