Healthcare Ethics and Human Values – An Introductory Text with Readings and Case Studies

"It is rare to find a collection of readings that offers a new perspective on healthcare ethics, but this one does. Fulford, Dickenson, and Murray have put together an inspired anthology that reflects diversity, enhanced by the original approach in the editors' framing of the issues. It will be an invaluable resource in bioethics."
Ruth Chadwick, Lancaster University

"This rich and exciting collection highlights the diversity of values among patients and professionals in healthcare. It effectively uses narrative accounts along with more formal approaches to illustrate and illuminate diverse values in the clinical encounter. I strongly recommend this volume, and I look forward to using it in my courses."
James F. Childress, University of Virginia

This volume illustrate the central importance of diversity of human values throughout healthcare. The readings are organized around the main stages of the clinical encounter from the patient's perspective. They run from staying well and "first contact" through to either recovery or long-term illness, death and dying.

An introductory section opens up crucial issues of methodology and of practical application in this highly innovative approach to the role of ethics in healthcare. The contributions include selections from literature and poetry, canoncial and newly commissiond articals, and first-hand narrative by patients, care givers, and professionals. The readings speak volumes to the diversity of human values operative in healthcare.

The volume as a whole conveys the message that these values are far more diverse then any of us normally recognize. Raising awareness of this diversity is the first step to developing a practically effective healthcare ethics.