Surgical ethics: principles and practice

This book encompasses the theoretical and practical aspects of surgical ethics, with a focus on the application of ethical standards to everyday surgical practice and the resolution of ethical conflicts in the surgical arena. It provides surgeons (both prospective and practicing) in the different surgical fields with deep, practical insights into the topic. A 21st century surgeon requires complete competence (superb clinical skills, expert surgical decision-making and outstanding performance and technical skills) as well as solid ethical values. Ethics are placed at the core of surgical professionalism, so surgeons must be not only proficient and expert but also ethically and morally reliable. Surgical decision-making can be considered as a two-step process: the "how to treat" aspect is a matter of surgical science, while "why to treat" issues are a matter of surgical ethics and are based on ethical principles. As such, every surgeon should have a moral compass to guide his or her actions, always placing the welfare and rights of the patients above their own. The book provides invaluable background and insights for solving the ethical conflicts surgeons around the globe encounter in their daily practice. Surgical Ethics - Principles and Practice is an authoritative work in the field designed for experienced surgeons, surgical residents, and fellows, all of whom are confronted with ethics issues and conflicts in practice.

Intro; Preface; Contents; Contributors; Part I: Principles and Foundations of Surgical Ethics; History and Development of Medical Ethics In the West; Introduction: From Professional Ethics to Bioethics; Emergence of Medical Ethics, But Not Yet Bioethics; The Beginning of Bioethics; Conclusion: The Role of the Bioethicist; Concluding Remarks; Bibliography; Suggested Literature; The History of Surgical Ethics; Introduction; Birth of Modern Ethics; John Gregory (1724-1773); Thomas Percival (1740-1804); Birth of Modern Surgery; Surgical Ethics; Informed Consent; Transplant Surgery

Surgical InnovationSurgical Ethics Today; Conclusion; Concluding Remarks; Glossary; References; Suggested Literature; Surgical Ethics: Theory and Practice Background; What Does It Mean for a Practicing Surgeon to Be "Ethical"?; Where Is "Ethics" in the Complexities of Patient Care?; Why Do Well-Intentioned Individuals Come to Conflicting Judgments About What Should Be Done?; What Are Patients and Their Families Invited to Trust?; When/Why Does Trust Break Down in Patient Care?; When/How Should Patients and Their Families Be Involved in Decision-Making?

Why Is It So Hard to Keep Sense in Care at Life's End?…