The Ethics of Medical Research on Humans

One of the most difficult problems confronting clinicians and medical professionals today is the application of ethical principles to real decisions affecting patients. In this even-handed book, Clare Foster examines the three main approaches to moral decision-making: goal-based, duty-based, and rights-based. She discusses the underlying philosophical arguments behind each approach, examines their relative strengths and weaknesses, and indicates how they can actually be applied. Is it ethical to experiment with new cures on people who are probably dying? How do you assess quality of consent? This book provides a thorough, nonpartisan grounding in what the ethical principles are and what informs them.