Publisher's Synopsis
New biomedical technologies and decisions require critical debate on matters as fundamental as how and what we eat, how we maintain health, and how we die. This book addresses the question of an historic change from medical paternalism to patient autonomy in matters of health, or 'from medical ethics to bioethics'. - - Written by authors with academic backgrounds in medicine, history, and philosophy, the contributions to this volume unlock the study of twentieth-century biomedical ethics in its social, political, legal, economic and clinical dimensions. They explore the key issues of professional self-regulaton, costs of health, informed consent in medical practice and clinical research, autonomy in end of life decisions, and genetic engineering. Many of the chapters deal with German themes, giving readers a rare chance to compare the familiar with historical developments in a sister European nation. - -
