This Is Bioethics

Bioethics is a dynamic field of inquiry that draws on interdisciplinary expertise and methodology to navigate ethical dilemmas in healthcare, medicine, biomedical research, biotechnology, public health, and the environment. Should editing the human genome be allowed? What are the ethical implications of social restrictions during a pandemic? Is it ethical to use animals in clinical research? Do health care practitioners have a professional obligation to treat COVID-19 patients if effective protective equipment is unavailable? An engaging and practical introduction to contemporary bioethics, This is Bioethics examines the moral problems and disputes that arise in the health sciences, including real-world ethical challenges at the frontlines of public health such as the influence of new technologies on the practice of medicine. Assuming no prior philosophical background, this accessible volume surveys the foundational principles of ethical theory to help students evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of bioethical arguments and develop informed, defensible answers to both traditional and emerging questions in this field of inquiry. Chadwick and Schuklenk avoid overly-technical jargon in favor of an easy and informal writing style designed to stimulate interest and encourage discussion, and the text is supported with supplementary digital resources for instructors on the This is Philosophy series site. In addition to full coverage of the standard curriculum, the book includes distinctive chapters on mental health ethics as well as on public health ethics, and covers some of the ethical issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic including triage decision-making, the consequences of societal shut-downs, and whether a future vaccine for the virus should be compulsory. A timely addition to the acclaimed This is Philosophy series, This is Bioethics is the ideal text for undergraduate bioethics and practical ethics courses, and is an essential resource for students in medicine, philosophy, biology, biochemistry, and public health, as well as the general public.