Description
Book SynopsisThis book constructs a virtue-based ethics for medicine and health care. Beginning with the problem of relating virtues to principles, the authors develop a theory that this linkage lies in the goals of medicine and the nature of medical practice as a moral community. Specific virtues such as trust, compassion, prudence, justice, courage, temperance, and self-effacement are discussed in separate chapters. The book ends by examining how a virtue-based ethic of medicine makes a difference in analysing problems like caring for the poor, research on human subjects, whether the medical virtues can be taught in professional training, and how a refurbished philosophy of medicine can enhance medicine and health care in the future.
Trade Review...the book is impressive and important because it attempts to systematize the insights of virtue theory and medical ethics and to place these insights into the larger framework of moral philosophy. * Theoretical Medicine *
This provocative and articulate study is a significant contribution to the literature. It should certainly be read by every serious physician and ethicist. * Richard M. Zaner, Vanderbilt University, Academic Medicine, Volume 69, Number 9, September 1994 *
Pellegrino and Thomasma are arguably among the most influential authors now writing about the moral nature of physicianhood. * Jonathan B. Imber, Wellesley College, New England Journal of Medicine, July 1994 *
The authors present an excellent introduction to current tides in bioethics ... An interesting, well-reasoned and well-written work with insight. Upper-division undergraduate through professional. * J.E. Allen, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Choice, Sep '94 *
a lucid, thoughtful, and impressively organized description of the philosophical foundation of virtue-based ethics ... The Virtues in Medical Practice is a splendid book. It reads well; it is not pedantic; it is intellectually stimulating and morally refreshing; it expands our intellectual horizons; it illuminates our shortcomings and nourishes our capabilities without a trace of condescension or pontification. I urge every physician who has concerns about the moral climate of our troubled ethical scene to read this treatise. He or she will be comforted and educated by such an effort. * Bernard H. Adelson, JAMA, October 1994, Vol. 272, No.16 *
The main message of the book is its call for the resuscitation of virtue and the restoration of the moral force of the medical community. * Joanna Pasek, Journal of Medical Ethics 1995, 21 *
a book to be warmly recommended to all students of medical ethics and anyone else serially interested in the subject * Agneta Sutton, Ethics & Medicine 1995 11.2 *
Table of ContentsPART I: Theory 1: Virtue Theory 2: The Link Between Virtues, Principles, Duties 3: Medicine as a Moral Community 4: The Ends of Medicine and its Virtues PART II: The Virtues in Medicine 5: Fidelity to Trust 6: Compassion 7: Phronesis: The Indispensable Virtue of Medicine 8: Justice 9: Fortitude 10: Temperance 11: Integrity 12: Self-Effacement PART III: The Practice of Virtue 13: How Does Virtue Make a Difference? 14: Can the Medical Virtues be Taught? 15: Postscript: An Integral Medical Ethics
