Emphasizing cases in order to illustrate the medical, scientific, and social issues raised in bioethics, Munson (philosophy of science and medicine, U. of Missouri-St. Louis) also uses analytical text, readings, and "decision scenarios" to make his points. Chapters cover such topics as patient autonomy and confidentiality, race and gender in medicine; genetic and reproductive control, medical resources, abortion, impaired infants and medical futility, euthanasia, and general theories of ethics. Munson has made an effort to include opposing viewpoints on controversial issues. Annotation ©2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Ronald Munson is Professor of the Philosophy of Science and Medicine at the University of Missouri--St. Louis. He received his Ph.D. from Columbia University and was a Postdoctoral Fellow in Biology at Harvard University. He has served as a medical ethicist for the National Institutes of Health and has been a Visiting Professor at the University of California, San Diego, the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and the Harvard Medical School. His books include REASONING IN MEDICINE (with Daniel Albert and Michael Resnik), THE WAY OF WORDS, and THE ELEMENTS OF REASONING (with Andrew Black). He is the author of the novels FAN MAIL, NIGHT VISION, and NOTHING HUMAN.

Tags: intervention and reflection