Bioethics and the Law: Notes, Cases, and Problems

The purpose of bioethics is to put forth ethically acceptable solutions to the problems posed by modern medicine. The actions of healthcare providers are governed by the four principles of bioethics: autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice. The principles of bioethics are directly connected to legal mandates. This book is designed to be used to teach a 2 or 3 credit biomedical ethics and law course or seminar. The number of biomedical ethics issues is vast and beyond the scope of this book. In this book, there will be an examination of the most common duties and rights that arise from the healthcare provider-patient relationship. Part I explores the ethical and legal issues surrounding the creation and termination of the healthcare provider-patient relationship. Part II of the book transitions from discussing duties to focusing on rights. Part III of the book looks at death and dying. In addition to cases, the book contains problems, notes, and questions.