Stephen E. Lammers

On its face this is a five-star comprehensive collection of essays by seasoned experts ventilating ethical issues arising from the practice of medicine. Unlike so many other anthologies, this one is focussed on theological perspectives. Sadly, that focus is its somewhat unexplored limitation. The authors collect believers who assume God provides doctors and pharmaceuticals, citing Ecclesiasticus and Sirach 38.

Covering medical care with a historical and diverse religious perspective, but ultimately clinging to modern professional ethics. Across multiple theologies, including biblical revelation, and "spiritual healing", with concessions to the arbitrariness of "sanctity", with essays by Ivan Illich, C.S. Lewis, Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, and Robert Veatch.

The necessity of integrity, in the face of death, nature, and disease, with choices of technology, and even options for suffering and respect, the conditions of the sick, are carefully reviewed. Chapters include contraception, fertilization, genetics, neonates, parenting, costs of child-bearing and abortion, heroism of saving life and euthanasia, suicide and faith, and the decisions made which impact the physician and patient who rarely know each other well. Includes: The role of psychiatry when most of the "therapy" is provided with drugs. The morality of vivisection, human experiments with human subjects. The presentation of unlimited needs while providing care is circumscribed with limitations. The social justice questions of health care.

The Table of Contents is helpful, with titles and authors. Most of the articles have excellent Notes and Sources.… (mais)