Medicine, Health Care, and Ethics

From its earliest beginnings, the Catholic Church has cared for the sick and dying of the world as an extension of the healing ministry of Jesus. As a natural consequence, Catholics have regularly addressed moral issues relating to health care long before the term bioethics was coined. Beginning with a deeply nuanced, holistic understanding of the human person as their foundation, Catholic scholars have developed a person-centered ethic with which to approach ethical dilemmas that is understandable and defensible in the light of natural human reason, yet which is compatible with the teachings and doctrine of the Church - emphasizing the harmony of faith and reason within the Catholic moral tradition. Medicine, Health Care, and Ethics adds to this rich tradition with a collection of contemporary essays that represent the very best efforts of current Catholic scholarship in the field of health care and medical ethics. The book begins with an introductory section that explains the basic foundations of the personalist approach to ethics and its development within Catholic thought. reproduction, contraception, abortion, euthanasia, genetic engineering, stem cell research, cloning, and health care reform. Each author brings a fresh perspective and a wealth of knowledge on these issues that will benefit Catholics as well as non-Catholics. With general overviews for each section, and topic-specific bibliographies to guide further study, this volume is designed to provide a greater understanding and deeper appreciation of the Catholic perspective on health care and medicine for both newcomers and seasoned students of bioethics alike. In today's culture of pluralism and diversity, the Catholic tradition has much wisdom to contribute to society's consideration of contemporary problems in medicine and health care. This collection of essays is offered in the spirit of open and honest dialogue for all who are seeking to understand that tradition.