Digital Commons Network^™

Can Ethnography Save The Life Of Medical Ethics?, Barry Hoffmaster

C. Barry Hoffmaster

Since its inception contemporary medical ethics has been regarded by many of its practitioners as ‘applied ethics’, that is, the application of philosophical theories to the moral problems that arise in health care. This ‘applied ethics’ model of medical ethics is, however, beset with internal and external difficulties. The internal difficulties point out that the model is intrinsically flawed. The external difficulties arise because the model does not fit work in the field. Indeed, the strengths of that work are its highly nuanced, particularized analyses of cases and issues and its appreciation of the circumstances and contexts that generate and …

A Survey Method For Investigating Ethical Decision Making In Family Practice, Barry Hoffmaster, Moira Stewart, Ronald Christie

C. Barry Hoffmaster

BACKGROUND: The tension between respect for patient autonomy versus concern for patient welfare is a challenging ethical issue for physicians. The purpose of this research was to describe a method for analyzing ethical decisions and to report the results of a survey of ethical decision making among family physicians.

METHODS: We developed a survey instrument that used simulated case scenarios, each of which posed an ethical dilemma. The ethical problems on the survey included the extent to which diagnostic information should be revealed to patients, the extent to which physicians should become involved in patients' life-style issues, and how to …

Between The Sacred And The Profane: Bodies, Property, And Patents In The Moore Case, Barry Hoffmaster

C. Barry Hoffmaster

No abstract provided.