Informed Consent, Proxy Consent, and Catholic Bioethics


Book Description

This work offers a comprehensive understanding rooted in Catholic anthropology and moral theory of the meaning and limits of informed and proxy consent to experimentation on human subjects. In particular, it seeks to articulate the rationale for proxy consent in both therapeutic and nontherapeutic settings. As to the former, the book proposes that the Golden Rule, recognizing the basic inclinations of human nature toward objective goods perfective of human persons, should underpin the notion of proxy consent to experimentation on humans. As to the latter, an additional scrutiny of the amount of risk involved is necessary, since the risk-benefit ratio frequently invoked to justify higher-risk therapeutic research does not exist in its nontherapeutic counterpart. This study discusses a number of possible solutions to this question and develops a position that builds upon the objective notion of the human good.




Informed Consent, Proxy Consent, and Catholic Bioethics


Book Description

This work offers a comprehensive understanding rooted in Catholic anthropology and moral theory of the meaning and limits of informed and proxy consent to experimentation on human subjects. In particular, it seeks to articulate the rationale for proxy consent in both therapeutic and nontherapeutic settings. As to the former, the book proposes that the Golden Rule, recognizing the basic inclinations of human nature toward objective goods perfective of human persons, should underpin the notion of proxy consent to experimentation on humans. As to the latter, an additional scrutiny of the amount of risk involved is necessary, since the risk-benefit ratio frequently invoked to justify higher-risk therapeutic research does not exist in its nontherapeutic counterpart. This study discusses a number of possible solutions to this question and develops a position that builds upon the objective notion of the human good.




A History and Theory of Informed Consent


Book Description

Clearly argued and written in nontechnical language, this book provides a definitive account of informed consent. It begins by presenting the analytic framework for reasoning about informed consent found in moral philosophy and law. The authors then review and interpret the history of informed consent in clinical medicine, research, and the courts. They argue that respect for autonomy has had a central role in the justification and function of informed consent requirements. Then they present a theory of the nature of informed consent that is based on an appreciation of its historical roots. An important contribution to a topic of current legal and ethical debate, this study is accessible to everyone with a serious interest in biomedical ethics, including physicians, philosophers, policy makers, religious ethicists, lawyers, and psychologists. This timely analysis makes a significant contribution to the debate about the rights of patients and subjects.




Who Speaks for the Child


Book Description




Catholic Bioethics and the Gift of Human Life, Third Edition


Book Description

"In this revision of his already classic text, William May shows us once again the wisdom of the Catholic Church's moral tradition in its application to contemporary bioethics. Illuminating and engaging - and with the attention to nuance that marks all of May's writing." - Edward J. Furton, M.A., Ph.D., Ethicist and Director of Publications, The National Catholic Bioethics Center "Since it was first published, Dr. May's text Catholic Bioethics and the Gift of Human Life has served an irreplaceable role in Catholic moral education. His new revision adds clear systematic treatments of several additional issues of pressing moral concern to the Church and society. Catholic educators everywhere will welcome this excellent revision. I welcome it! - E. Christian Brugger, Associate Professor of Moral Theology, Institute for the Psychological Sciences "With so much bioethical thinking supporting the 'culture of death,' I can think of no better champion of a 'culture of life' than Professor William E. May. Professor May has given us a book which is useful not only for its masterful summary of the moral magisterium on bioethics, but also for its treatment of such issues as contraception, artificial reproduction, the care of the dying, human experimentation, and the definition of death and organ transplants." - Dr. Mark S. Latkovic, Associate Professor of Moral Theology, Sacred Heart Major Seminary What the Church teaches - and why - on issues of euthanasia, in vitro fertilization, genetic counseling, assisted suicide, living wills, persistent vegetative state, organ transplants, and more.




Catholic Bioethics and the Gift of Human Life, 2nd Edition


Book Description

"In this revision of his already classic text, William May shows us once again the wisdom of the Catholic Church's moral tradition in its application to contemporary bioethics. Illuminating and engaging -- and with the attention to nuance that marks all of May's writing." -- Edward J. Furton, M.A., Ph.D., Ethicist and Director of Publications, The National Catholic Bioethics Center "With so much bioethical thinking supporting the 'culture of death,' I can think of no better champion of a 'culture of life' than Professor William E. May. Professor May has given us a book which is useful not only for its masterful summery of the moral magisterium on bioethics, but also for its treatment of such issues as contraception, artificial reproduction, the care of the dying, human experimentation, and the definition of death and organ transplants." -- Dr. Mark S. Latkovic, Associate Professor of Moral Theology, Sacred Heart Major Seminary What the Church teaches -- and why -- on issues of euthanasia, in vitro fertilization, genetic counseling, assisted suicide, living wills, persistent vegetative state, organ transplants, and more.




Manual of Catholic Medical Ethics


Book Description

Modern medical technology and therapeutic options are in constant development and are far from having reached their limits. Many healthcare workers, biomedical scientists, pastoral caregivers and also patients wonder what are the moral consequences are what are the constraints. From their expertise in the fields of medicine and ethics and from the perspective of the practice of healthcare, the authors offer a helping hand in answering these questions. Taking into account the most recent developments many actual questions are discussed. They are presented according to the phases of life where medical-ethical questions may arise. Well-argued answers to these questions and dilemmas are given, based on the teachings of the Catholic Church. May these provide for the needs of Catholic healthcare workers, and all people of good will, who are searching for sources of inspiration to assist in the formation of their views on healthcare and spirituality.




Cross-Cultural and Religious Critiques of Informed Consent


Book Description

This book explores the challenges of informed consent in medical intervention and research ethics, considering the global reality of multiculturalism and religious diversity. Even though informed consent is a gold standard in research ethics, its theoretical foundation is based on the conception of individual subjects making autonomous decisions. There is a need to reconsider autonomy as relational—where family members, community and religious leaders can play an important part in the consent process. The volume re-evaluates informed consent in multicultural contexts and features perspectives from Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism and Islam. It is valuable reading for scholars interested in bioethics, healthcare ethics, research ethics, comparative religions, theology, human rights, law and sociology.




Rethinking Informed Consent in Bioethics


Book Description

Informed consent is a central topic in contemporary biomedical ethics. Yet attempts to set defensible and feasible standards for consenting have led to persistent difficulties. In Rethinking Informed Consent in Bioethics, first published in 2007, Neil Manson and Onora O'Neill set debates about informed consent in medicine and research in a fresh light. They show why informed consent cannot be fully specific or fully explicit, and why more specific consent is not always ethically better. They argue that consent needs distinctive communicative transactions, by which other obligations, prohibitions, and rights can be waived or set aside in controlled and specific ways. Their book offers a coherent, wide-ranging and practical account of the role of consent in biomedicine which will be valuable to readers working in a range of areas in bioethics, medicine and law.




Family-Oriented Informed Consent


Book Description

This volume addresses the proper character of patient informed consent to medical treatment and clinical research. The goal is critically to explore the current individually oriented approach to informed consent which grew out of the dominant bioethics movement that arose in the United States in the 1970s. In contrast to that individually oriented approach, this volume explores the importance of family-oriented approaches to informed consent for medical treatment and clinical research. It draws on both East Asian moral resources as well as a critical response to the ways in which the practice of informed consent has developed in the United States