Is There a Duty to Die?: And Other Essays in Bioethics (Reflective Bioethics) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0415922429 ISBN 13: 9780415922425

Publisher: Routledge, 2014

Synopsis

Amid 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.

About this title

About the Author

John Hardwig is Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Humanities at East Tennessee State University. This is his first book.

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0415922429
• ISBN 13: 9780415922425
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224
• Editor: Hardwig John