Medical ethics in the united states

Authors : MR Wicclair

Pages : 194-208

View : 9 | Download : 8

Publication Date : 1995-10-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This article provides a brief survey of medical ethics in the United States. It begins with a short sketch of issues in theoretical medical ethics, but the article`s primary focus is on applied medical ethics. The discussion of applied medical ethics begins with a review of important norms of clinical ethics which are generally accepted in the United States. These settled norms include:insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1); decision - making for competent patients should be shared.insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2); Competent patients have a right to refuse medical treatment, including life - sustaining treatment.insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(3); Decision - making for incompetent patients can be approximated by advance directives and/or surrogate decision - makers.insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(4); Surrogate decision - making for incompetent patients should be based on the substituted judgment and/or best interests standards. In addition, the following areas of continuing controversy are discussed: medical futility, the moral authority of advance directives, physician assisted suicide and active euthanasia insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(`mercy killing`);, the standard of death, living related organ donation, AIDS, reproductive technology, genetic technology, cost containment, and access to health care. The article ends with a brief discussion of ethical issues related to research with human subjects in the United States.
Keywords : Ethics, Medical ethics, United States, Ethical decision making, Advance directives, Surrogate decision making