Principles of Biomedical Ethics

Features

• The original, accessible, and practical guide to morality in the health care professions for courses in biomedical ethics, bioethics, and health care ethics
• Argues for and thoroughly develops four principles at the core of moral reasoning in health care: respect for autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice
• Extends these four principles to apply to a wide variety of conflicts and dilemmas
• Surveys major philosophical theories in biomedical ethics, including utilitarianism and Kantianism
• Uses vivid examples from real events and case studies to illuminate theory and method throughout
• Provides a substantial introduction that clarifies important terms and concepts
• Includes numerous annotated citations for further reference

About the Author(s)

Tom L. Beauchamp is Professor of Philosophy and Senior Research Scholar at the Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown University.

James F. Childress is University Professor & John Allen Hollingsworth Professor of Ethics at the University of Virginia.

Reviews

"What is by far the best general book on bioethics has gotten even better. Such a combination of accessibility and rigor is rarely attained. With each successive edition, this outstanding book gets even better."--Allen Buchanan, Duke University and Dickson Poon School of Law at King's College, London

"How many books can be said to have shaped a field of study for decades, and to have helped institutionalize that field around the world? It is hard to imagine what bioethics would be like without Principles of Biomedical Ethics."--Jonathan Moreno, University of Pennsylvania

"In this excellent revision of their classic work, Beauchamp and Childress deepen their account of common morality and the four clusters of moral principles. Successfully responding to earlier criticisms, the authors provide an illuminating analysis of moral philosophy, in addition to bioethics. This book is a must-read for beginners in the field as well as for more advanced scholars."--Ruth Macklin, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

"The Bible of bioethics. Everyone working in the field should have a copy. Over twenty-five years I have come to realize that these are the four principles of practical ethics. In every analysis, I find myself drawn to using them."--Julian Savulescu, University of Oxford

"Hard to believe, but true. As each time before, this new (now, eighth) edition of the Principles provides considerable benefits over its predecessors: highest quality for newcomers to bioethics; innovative thought for experts; and new material and revision of previous material. What an intellectual achievement!"--Bettina Schöne-Seifert, University of Münster, Germany

"Principles of Biomedical Ethics is one of the enduring and indispensable contributions to bioethics. It is always a valuable source of information and insight for those of us who are veterans in the field, and even more so for those new to the field in the classroom. Its regular updating is itself of great value, catching new issues that appear."--Daniel Callahan, Co-founder of The Hastings Center

"Over the past forty years Beauchamp and Childress's Principles of Biomedical Ethics has become synonymous with bioethics. This venerable text has only gotten better with age. Beauchamp and Childress are to be congratulated for their historic contributions and the exemplary eighth edition, which deserves a place on the shelf of every bioethicist's library."--Joseph Fins, Weill Cornell Medicine and Yale Law School

"Principles of Biomedical Ethics is a standard in the field, and for good reason. With each edition, Beauchamp and Childress focus on not only updating the examples and cases to represent the state of the discipline, but also on refining their arguments and views."--Tracie Mahaffey, Florida State University

"I would rate this book overall as excellent. It's a rare work that is both scholarly and rigorous but also useful as a teaching instrument. The authors' writing is clear and engaging."--Kayhan Parsi, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine

"I looked long and hard to identify a textbook for the ethics course I teach. I think I have reviewed most of what is available. By far this textbook is the best."--Barbara D'Anna, SUNY Delhi

"The overall quality is exceptional. This classic work has many strengths, not least of which is its comprehensive introductory material on moral foundations; this introduction is one of the strongest introductions to morality of any text (in biomedical ethics and otherwise) I've used."--David Paul, Western Michigan University