Medical Ethics in the Catholic Tradition: Perspectives from Philosophy, Theology, Medicine, and the Law

This book is a comprehensive survey and a sustained treatment of the major topics in contemporary medical ethics from within the Roman Catholic tradition. It brings together perspectives from philosophy, theology, medicine, and law to explore the traditions that undergird Catholic medical ethics. The authors of this book are, respectively, a philosopher, theologian, physician, and attorney. Their commitment to the Roman Catholic tradition provides the foundational principles for addressing a wide range of issues in contemporary medical ethics. These topics include abortion, reproduction, cloning to produce children, cloning for biomedical research, embryonic stem cell use, genetics as screening, testing, therapy, enhancement, engineering, specific special relations such as maternal/fetal, physician/patient, mentally ill/caretakers, health care, and end of life issues. Furthermore, the book elaborates on the ways in which the authors’ professions and disciplines act in service to medicine as an instrument for real human flourishing. Medical Ethics in the Catholic Tradition is for the physician who would like to know more about the philosophical/theological/legal traditions that undergird the Catholic position. It is for the attorney who would like to know more about the philosophical/theological/medical traditions that undergird the Catholic position. Similarly, the philosopher or theologian can find here the appropriate information to understand how science and law contribute to the development of the Catholic position on major issues in medical ethics.