The Basics of Bioethics

The Basics of Bioethics, Fourth Edition offers an easy-to-follow introduction to this dynamic field, intended for healthcare professionals, teachers, students, and anyone interested in bioethics. Accessible and enjoyable for readers of all backgrounds, the book contains numerous cases—including ones that recently have dominated international headlines—to help anchor the broader discussion. The text is suitable for use in short courses in schools of medicine, nursing, and other health professions; continuing professional education; various undergraduate departments; and adult education. Chapters are organized around common moral themes in order to help readers understand the values and other connections that tie together different positions in bioethics. This fourth edition adds a new chapter on alternative frameworks in bioethics, including narrative ethics and casuistry, feminist approaches, care ethics, and virtue ethics. Due to significant advances in genetics and reproductive possibilities, this new edition devotes a full chapter to each. The combined teaching, research, and clinical experience of the two authors helps make this edition current with the evolving field of bioethics, while still embedding the major issues in a systematic framework that allows readers easily to navigate the larger field.

Key Changes to the Fourth Edition:

• An added chapter on new and emerging approaches in bioethics, including those based on virtue ethics, casuistry and narrative ethics, feminist ethics, and care ethics

• Updates throughout the book based on developments in ethical theory and new medical research

• Revisions and updates to the Learning Objectives, Key Terms, Bibliographies, and URLs

• The addition of multiple recent case studies, including:



Jahi McMath

an undocumented patient who needs a rule bent

a pediatrician who turns away unvaccinated patients

a minor eligible for pediatric bariatric surgery

a daughter suing a hospital for non-disclosure of her father’s Huntington’s diagnosis

CRISPR-edited newborn babies